smartsteuer
Hannover tax return software, EUR 39.99 paid only at submission
At a glance
| Company | smartsteuer GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Personal Tax Filing Apps |
| Headquarters | Hannover, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Hosted by SysEleven GmbH (named as hosting processor in the privacy policy) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Step-by-step questions, live refund calculation, smartCheck error check, Lexware Office import, property tax return product |
| Pricing | EUR 39.99, paid at submission (smartsteuer.de/online) |
| Best For | German freelancers and employees who also use Lexware Office |
| Replaces | TurboTax |
Our review
smartsteuer GmbH is a company at Drostestraße 16 in Hannover, registered at the Amtsgericht Hannover under HRB 200898. The managing directors are Stefan Heine and Eike Hirsch.
The company states it employs 46 people and belongs, as a majority holding, to Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co. KG of the Haufe Group.
How much is smartsteuer and when do I pay?
smartsteuer states a price of EUR 39.99 that is paid only when the return is submitted. Until then users can start for free and see the refund calculated live.
What does smartsteuer check before sending?
The smartCheck feature reviews the return before it goes to the tax office. smartsteuer says this keeps data secure and error-free.
The home page also offers a transfer of income, expenses and receipts from Lexware Office, which suits users of that accounting product.
smartsteuer against TurboTax
TurboTax is a US product with expert tiers. smartsteuer is a German product with one listed price and a Haufe Group parent in Germany.
The pages we read show no expert-prepared tier and no hosting detail beyond the processor SysEleven GmbH.
Known limits
smartsteuer targets German returns only and lists no human tax adviser filing option on the pages we read. The ownership by Haufe-Lexware means it is tied to a larger business-software group. The headline refund figure of EUR 1,432 on the home page is marked with an asterisk and is a marketing average, not a promise.
Who smartsteuer fits
German employees, students, pensioners and freelancers who want a single fixed fee and already keep their books in Lexware Office.
Advantages and drawbacks
Pros
- Single listed price of EUR 39.99
- Pay at submission, free start
- smartCheck review before filing
- Lexware Office data transfer
- Hosting processor named in the privacy policy
Cons
- Germany only
- No human adviser filing option listed
- Part of a larger group (Haufe)
- Average refund figure is marketing, marked with an asterisk
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Single listed price of EUR 39.99
- Pay at submission, free start
- smartCheck review before filing
- Lexware Office data transfer
- Hosting processor named in the privacy policy
Cons
- Germany only
- No human adviser filing option listed
- Part of a larger group (Haufe)
- Average refund figure is marketing, marked with an asterisk
Alternatives to smartsteuer
Alternatives from Europe in the personal tax filing apps group:
See all European personal tax filing apps or compare them directly against TurboTax on our alternatives page.
Common questions
Yes, for German taxpayers. smartsteuer GmbH is in Hannover and belongs by majority to the Haufe Group in Germany.
smartsteuer states EUR 39.99, paid only when the return is submitted.
Yes. The home page offers a transfer of income, expenses and receipts from Lexware Office into smartsteuer.