Expatfile vs WISO Steuer
Expatfile
expatfile.taxWISO Steuer
buhl.deSide by side
| Figure | Expatfile | WISO Steuer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | €3/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 6 |
| Spec score · Personal Tax Software | 8.4 (#36) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Tax Software | 8.4 (#44) | 9.5 (#1) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Security | The security page says data at rest is encrypted with AES-256 and public connections use post-quantum key exchange. | Buhl says data is stored on its servers in Germany and transmission and storage use HTTPS and AES-256 encryption. |
| Support | Expatfile advertises 24/7 email and chat support. | The Vorteils-Abo includes a technical support hotline, and support requests can also be submitted through Buhl's ticket system. |
| What it does | Expatfile is do-it-yourself tax software for Americans living abroad to prepare and e-file their U.S. expat tax returns. | WISO Steuer prepares German income-tax returns and submits them electronically to the tax authority through ELSTER. |
Plans
Expatfile
- Standard$119, paid once
- Premier$159, paid once
- Investor$199, paid once
- Unlimited$499, paid once
- SFOP Standard$699, paid once
- SFOP Premier$819, paid once
- SFOP Investor$939, paid once
WISO Steuer
- TestversionFree
- Vorteils-Abo€35.99 a year
- Einzelkauf€45.99, paid once
- TestversionFree
- Vorteils-Abo€35.99 a year
- Einzelkauf€45.99, paid once
In their own words
WISO Steuer
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.