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 EUR per 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 EUR per 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.

	VSTax	WISO Steuer
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial		Yes
Paid from	Free	€3/mo
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	No
Mobile access	web_and_mobile
Filer types		both
Self-employed support		Yes
Rental income support		Yes
Electronic filing included		Yes

VSTax vs WISO Steuer

VSTax

WISO Steuer