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WISO Steuer

buhl.de

From €3/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
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Spec score 9.5 #1 of 149 in Tax Software

What it is

WISO Steuer guides people through preparing and filing German income tax returns. Users can photograph wage statements and receipts for automatic recognition, and the software updates an expected refund estimate as information is entered. With consent, it can retrieve tax data such as wage-tax information from the tax administration. SteuerGPT answers tax questions in natural language, while Tax Banking can retrieve and categorize transactions when connected to a finanzblick account. Completed returns are sent electronically to the tax office using the official ELSTER interface. One license allows up to five returns, and eligibility is limited to people with unlimited tax liability in Germany. The software is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. A free test version allows all functions to be tried, with payment requested when submitting a return. The Vorteils-Abo costs €35.99 a year and renews automatically each November; Einzelkauf costs €45.99 a month, billed as a one-time purchase for a tax year. Buhl says data is stored on servers in Germany and protected with HTTPS and AES-256 encryption in transit and storage.

Spec sheet

What it does
WISO Steuer prepares German income-tax returns and submits them electronically to the tax authority through ELSTER.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Purpose
WISO Steuer guides users through preparing and submitting German income tax returns.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Intended users
The maker describes the product as suitable for employees, self-employed people, retirees, landlords, families, and beginners.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Platforms
WISO Steuer is available in a browser, as apps for iOS and Android, and as installable software for Windows and Mac; the browser version can be used on Linux.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Free plan
NoRead 20 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Security
Buhl says data is stored on its servers in Germany and transmission and storage use HTTPS and AES-256 encryption.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Privacy
The privacy notice says personal data is not generally shared with third parties, with limited exceptions including service providers, legal requirements, or user consent.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Support
The Vorteils-Abo includes a technical support hotline, and support requests can also be submitted through Buhl's ticket system.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Headquarters
Neunkirchen, GermanyRead 28 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
AI assistance
SteuerGPT answers tax questions in natural language within the program.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
API and SDKs
Buhl's developer API material found publicly concerns WISO MeinBüro Rechnungen; no WISO Steuer API or SDK is described on that page.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Apple App Store rating
4.8 out of 5 from 71,410 ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Automatic entry
Users can photograph wage statements and receipts for automatic recognition and entry.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Automatic tax data
The software can retrieve electronically available information from employers, insurers and other institutions for prefilled returns.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Bank integration
Connecting a bank account lets WISO Steuer categorize expenses automatically and populate forms.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Banking integration
Tax Banking can retrieve and categorize bank transactions, and requires a finanzblick account.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Company founded
LinkedIn lists Buhl Data Service GmbH as founded in 1986.Read 14 Oct 2026 · de.linkedin.com
Company headquarters
LinkedIn lists the headquarters at Neunkirchen, Germany.Read 14 Oct 2026 · de.linkedin.com
Company legal name
The maker is Buhl Data Service GmbH, a privately held software company.Read 14 Oct 2026 · de.linkedin.com
Company size
LinkedIn places the company in the 501–1,000 employee size band and says the wider group has more than 800 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · de.linkedin.com
Document scanning
Users can photograph payslips, invoices and receipts; the app extracts key fields and places them into the return.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Eligibility limit
The product supports income tax returns only for people with unlimited tax liability in Germany.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
ELSTER recognition
The product uses the official ELSTER interface and is recognized by ELSTER for electronic filing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Error checking
Before filing, the program checks the return for errors and gives corrective help plus refund tips.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Google Play rating
4.7 out of 5 from 67,800 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Licence model
The licence is proprietary: the licence text grants installation and filing rights, applies German copyright law and states the WISO software logo is licensed from ZDF Studios.Read 14 Oct 2026 · forum.buhl.de
Limit: AI quality
Computer Bild found SteuerGPT immature in testing, with incomplete or partly incorrect answers and occasional navigation to the wrong dialog.Read 14 Oct 2026 · computerbild.de
Limit: complex cases
Finanztip reviewers report that complex returns can feel overpowered, PDF uploads may be slow and hotline access can involve long waits.Read 14 Oct 2026 · finanztip.de
Limit: identification delay
An App Store reviewer reported roughly 20 hours before Post-Ident status enabled filing and no notification that the process had completed.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: language support
A Trustpilot reviewer complained that the software has no English-language mode; Buhl replied that it is designed for German tax law and cannot change language.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: start filter
Computer Bild criticized the initial topic filter as too narrow and offering little workload reduction.Read 14 Oct 2026 · computerbild.de
Live refund estimate
The expected refund is recalculated after each entry and shown during preparation.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Multi-device use
One account synchronizes work between browser, smartphone, tablet, Windows and Mac.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Notable news: Finanztip test
Finanztip reported on 22 May 2026 that WISO Steuer narrowly led its smartphone tax-app test with 9.53 out of 10 points.Read 14 Oct 2026 · finanztip.de
Notable release update
The App Store version history dated 3 August 2026 lists improved capital-income, investment-fund, Riester and small-business VAT checks.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Notice comparison and appeals
The software compares its calculation with the tax office line by line and supplies text assistance for objections.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Offline desktop use
Windows and Mac editions can store data locally without an internet connection, while cloud synchronization requires connectivity.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Praise: cross-device convenience
App Store reviewers praise intuitive guidance, prior-year data transfer and convenient ELSTER submission across devices.Read 14 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Praise: ease and accuracy
Finanztip reviewers repeatedly describe the guided workflow as easy and say calculated refunds usually match tax-office notices closely.Read 14 Oct 2026 · finanztip.de
Praise: feature breadth
Computer Bild rated WISO Steuer 1.2 (very good), praising its guidance, extensive help, automatic prefill and many additional calculators.Read 14 Oct 2026 · computerbild.de
Rating on Trustpilot
4.6 out of 5 from 6,841 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Refund estimate
The software calculates the expected refund live while the user enters information.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Return limit
One license allows users to submit up to five tax returns.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Security architecture
Buhl says WISO Steuer data stays on its own servers in Germany, with HTTPS and AES-256 encryption and a no-sharing policy.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
SteuerGPT
A built-in free AI chat provides personalized tax answers based on expert knowledge.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Support documentation
The official FAQ covers payment, accounts, functions, tax filing, tax notices, security and technical requirements.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Supported taxpayers
It targets employees, self-employed people, landlords, retirees, students and trainees, but only people fully tax-liable in Germany can prepare an income-tax return.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
System requirements
The desktop editions require Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 12 Monterey or newer, 3 GB disk space, 4 GB RAM, 1280×800 graphics and internet access.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Tax data retrieval
With the user's consent, the service can retrieve tax data such as wage-tax information from the tax administration.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Tax filing
The product electronically transmits tax returns to the tax office using the official ELSTER interface.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Tax GPT processing
The privacy notice names Taxy.io GmbH as the processor for SteuerGPT and Microsoft Azure servers in Germany.Read 30 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Tax notice retrieval
Since 1 January 2026, electronic tax notices can be retrieved inside WISO Steuer, with postal delivery also available.Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de

Plans and prices

Testversion Free Pay only when submitting the tax return All functions can be tested · Payment is requested when submitting the tax return Read 20 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Vorteils-Abo €35.99 a year Annual subscription; renews automatically each November 5 tax returns Read 20 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Einzelkauf €45.99 a month One-time purchase for a tax year One-time submission for one tax year · SteuerGPT personal AI adviser Read 20 Sep 2026 · buhl.de
Testversion Free All functions usable; payment requested when filing Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Vorteils-Abo €35.99 a year annual subscription Up to 5 tax returns · SteuerGPT · technical hotline · coaching · automatic data entry · cancellable anytime Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de
Einzelkauf €45.99, paid once one tax year Up to 5 tax returns · SteuerGPT Read 14 Oct 2026 · buhl.de

Every WISO Steuer plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Submits returns electronically through ELSTER.
  • Photographs of wage statements and receipts can be recognized.
  • Available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
  • Free test version allows all functions to be tried.

Limits

  • Limited to people with unlimited tax liability in Germany.
  • One license covers up to five returns.
  • Tax Banking requires a finanzblick account.
  • Vorteils-Abo renews automatically each November.

Who it suits

It is intended for people with unlimited tax liability in Germany, including employees, self-employed people, retirees, landlords, families, and beginners. It can be useful to users who want electronic filing and optional retrieval of tax or banking data.

WISO Steuer in depth

Read the full write-up

WISO Steuer is German income-tax software for people who want guided preparation and electronic filing. It is a strong fit for employees, self-employed people, retirees, landlords, families and beginners who can use the service under its German tax-liability rules. Its document recognition, tax-data retrieval and live refund estimate are useful advantages; the five-return license and eligibility boundary matter before you choose it.

Overview

The service gives filers several ways to assemble a return: photograph wage statements and receipts for automatic recognition and entry, or authorize retrieval of tax data such as wage-tax information from the tax administration. The expected refund updates as information is entered, and completed returns are transmitted to the tax office through the official ELSTER interface. Together, these tools reduce some manual work while keeping the likely result in view.

One license covers up to five returns, which can suit a household or someone filing for several people. WISO Steuer supports income tax returns only for people with unlimited tax liability in Germany. That restriction is decisive: it is not the right choice for filers outside that group.

Key features

Document entry and tax-data retrieval

Photographing wage statements and receipts lets the software recognize and enter information instead of requiring every figure to be typed. With consent, it can also retrieve tax data from the tax administration. These options are most useful to filers with documents and records that can be brought in this way; they do not remove the need to prepare a return.

Live estimate and filing

The refund estimate changes as users enter information, giving them a running view of the expected outcome. Electronic transmission uses the official ELSTER interface, so filing is part of the product rather than a separate manual submission step.

AI, banking and data handling

SteuerGPT answers tax questions in natural language within the program. Tax Banking can retrieve and categorize transactions, but requires a finanzblick account. Buhl says data is stored on its servers in Germany and protected in transmission and storage with HTTPS and AES-256 encryption. The privacy notice says personal data is not generally shared, subject to exceptions such as service providers, legal requirements or user consent. For SteuerGPT, it names Taxy.io GmbH as processor and Microsoft Azure servers in Germany.

The Vorteils-Abo includes a technical support hotline, and users can also submit support requests through Buhl’s ticket system.

Pricing

Testversion — free

All functions can be tried without charge, but payment is requested when submitting the tax return. This is a useful way to prepare and assess the workflow before committing; it is not a free filing option.

Vorteils-Abo — €35.99 a year

The annual subscription covers five tax returns and includes the technical support hotline. It renews automatically each November, so subscribers should account for that renewal when deciding whether to keep it. The five-return allowance makes it the better fit for households or multiple filings than a one-return purchase.

Einzelkauf — €45.99 a month

This is a one-time purchase for a tax year, with one-time submission for that year and SteuerGPT as a personal AI adviser. It suits someone who wants a single tax-year purchase rather than an automatically renewing subscription, but its one-return submission limit is less generous than the subscription’s five returns.

Platforms

WISO Steuer runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, the web and Windows. The range covers phones, desktop systems and browser access, so users are not restricted to one device type.

Who it's for

The product is intended for employees, self-employed people, retirees, landlords, families and beginners. It also supports self-employed and rental income, making it relevant beyond straightforward wage-only filing. In every case, the user must have unlimited tax liability in Germany.

Pros and cons

Pros: Photo-based document recognition and consent-based tax-data retrieval can reduce manual entry.

Pros: The live refund estimate and ELSTER electronic filing cover both preparation and submission.

Pros: A license can cover up to five returns, and the Vorteils-Abo adds a support hotline.

Cons: Filing is limited to people with unlimited tax liability in Germany.

Cons: The free test version requires payment at submission, while the annual subscription renews automatically each November.

Cons: Tax Banking requires a separate finanzblick account, and the Einzelkauf covers only one return submission for a tax year.

Alternatives

For more options, compare Personal Tax Software and Tax Preparation Software.

H&R Block Online is a web and mobile alternative with a free plan for simple tax situations using Form 1040; choose it if that US-focused scope fits better than German filing.

TaxDown offers a free simulation to calculate a return result, while filing requires a plan; choose it if you want to calculate before paying to submit.

TaxAct offers free federal filing for eligible standard returns, with state filing additional; choose it if that US federal-return scope matches your needs.

CloudTax offers a free plan with self-guided basic-return support and two returns; choose it if its mobile-only platform and return allowance suit you.

TurboTax has a free edition for simple Form 1040 returns; choose it if you qualify for that limited scope.

Keeper is another option.

ClearTax is another option.

EZTax is another option.

Verdict

Choose WISO Steuer if you have unlimited tax liability in Germany and want guided preparation, several ways to bring in tax information, a live estimate and electronic filing in one product. The five-return annual subscription is particularly suited to households and multiple filings. Look elsewhere if you fall outside its eligibility rules, need a genuinely free submission, or do not want an automatically renewing subscription.

Verdict

WISO Steuer combines guided return preparation, tax-data retrieval, and electronic filing for eligible German taxpayers. Its free test version and stated subscription price are clear, but eligibility and return-count limits apply.

Where Specifiction places it

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