How does the electronic transmission of wage tax data to the tax office work?
July 20, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Elvira Klinger
Dear tax consultant,
My name is Alexander Lahn and I am the managing director of a medium-sized company. In our company, I also take care of payroll processing and have been having problems with the electronic transmission of payroll tax data to the tax office lately.
So far, we have always sent the payroll tax data to the tax office in paper form, but I have been advised to switch to electronic transmission as it is said to be more efficient and easier. Unfortunately, I have no experience with this process and I am unsure of how it works exactly.
I am concerned that I may make errors in the transmission and potentially face legal consequences for our company. Therefore, I would like to know from you how exactly the electronic transmission of payroll tax data to the tax office works and what steps I need to take to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Could you please explain to me what software or programs we need to transmit the data electronically? Are there specific deadlines that we need to meet? And how can we ensure that the data is transmitted correctly and completely?
I would like to thank you in advance for your help and support on this matter.
Kind regards,
Alexander Lahn
Dear Mr. Lahn,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the electronic transmission of wage tax data to the tax office. It is understandable that you are concerned about the correct processing of this process, as errors in this area can have serious consequences. I am happy to help explain the steps for electronically transmitting wage tax data to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
First of all, you will need a special software for the electronic transmission of wage tax data that is capable of sending the data to the tax office in the required format. This software is called ELSTER, which stands for "Electronic Tax Declaration". You can download and install the software for free on the tax office's website. ELSTER allows you to submit various tax declarations online to the tax office, including the wage tax registration.
To electronically transmit the wage tax data, you must first log in to the ELSTER platform with your personal identification number and PIN. There, you can enter the relevant data and create the wage tax registration. It is important that all data is correct and complete, as inaccurate or missing information can lead to problems.
There are certain deadlines that you must adhere to when submitting wage tax data. Usually, the wage tax registration must be submitted by the 10th of the following month in which the wages and salaries were paid. It is important to meet this deadline to avoid possible fines or sanctions.
To ensure that the data is transmitted correctly and completely, I recommend carefully checking the wage tax registration before submitting it. Check if all information is correct, if all employees are correctly recorded, and if all wage tax data is accurate. It may also be helpful to have a colleague review the data to avoid errors.
I hope that this information helps you with the electronic transmission of wage tax data. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am happy to help.
Best regards,
Elvira Klinger, Tax Advisor
