Time is running out: October 31, the deadline for submitting property tax, is approaching. The authorities now see this too, which is why the finance ministries are approving the first exceptions and extending the deadline.
There is only about a month left to complete the property tax return. Around 80 percent of the tax returns for the 36 million properties had not yet been submitted in mid-September.
So time is definitely running out – the authorities themselves are gradually noticing that, so that there are already the first exceptions to the October 31 submission deadline. You can find out who these apply to here.
The reform for the new property tax is complex – and this year it will require owners. You have to submit some data to the tax office. You have to be very precise and observe special deadlines. In our large guide you will find all the information you need to know in a compact form.
As reported by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, the first cities and municipalities in Thuringia are now asking for a postponement of the property tax deadline, including Jena.
The city has 7,000 parcels and 13,000 parcels to process and simply cannot handle the mass of property tax returns. That is why the postponement was finally approved by the state finance ministry – the new deadline is December 31, 2022.
Erfurt and Weimar have already made such requests for an extension of the deadline. Some cities and municipalities nationwide will certainly follow suit.
Especially in East Germany it is difficult due to the large amount of agricultural land, since this is also being assessed for the first time. Even allotments and communal garages need to be considered.
There is currently no extension of the deadline for private owners of land, houses or apartments. So if you are an owner, you still need to comply with October 31st. However, Finance Minister Christian Lindner wants to enter into negotiations with the federal states in a timely manner in order to give owners more time.
However, there are some pitfalls with property tax that you should definitely avoid. Otherwise, it can also be more expensive than necessary – if you miss the deadline, it can even result in fines, at least in theory.
