What is the difference between tax return and tax assessment?
March 8, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Anneliese Schaaf
Dear tax advisor,
my name is Georg Schenkenberg and I have a question regarding tax returns and tax assessments. I have already submitted my tax return for the past year and am now waiting for the tax assessment. However, I am not entirely sure what the exact difference is between these two terms and what significance they each have.
My current understanding is that the tax return is the document that I must fill out annually to disclose my income and expenses to the tax office. The tax assessment, on the other hand, is the tax office's response to my tax return, determining whether I have to make an additional payment or receive a refund.
My concern is that I may have made incorrect statements in my tax return and as a result, could receive an incorrect tax assessment. Therefore, I would like to understand how exactly the tax office checks my tax return and what consequences may arise from it. Are there specific sources of errors that I should pay special attention to? And what can I do if I find that my tax assessment is incorrect?
I hope you can provide me with clarity on this matter and suggest possible solutions. Thank you in advance for your help.
Best regards,
Georg Schenkenberg
Dear Mr. Schenkenberg,
Thank you for your question regarding tax returns and tax assessments. I will try to answer all your questions in detail.
First of all, it is important to understand that tax returns and tax assessments are two different documents that play an important role in the process of determining income tax. The tax return is the document that you, as a taxpayer, must submit to the tax office annually. In this declaration, you state your income and expenses and explain how much tax you owe for the respective year.
The tax assessment, on the other hand, is the feedback from the tax office on your tax return. This assessment determines whether you need to make a payment, if a refund is due, or if everything is already balanced. The tax assessment is the official determination of your tax liability for the past year.
The tax office carefully reviews your tax return to ensure that all information is correct and complete. In particular, income, expenses, deductions, and extraordinary expenses are checked for plausibility. Sources of errors can include incorrect income information, forgotten deductions, or missing receipts. Therefore, it is important to carefully review your tax documents and keep all relevant receipts.
If you find that your tax assessment is incorrect, you have the option to appeal against it. You must submit a written appeal to the tax office and explain your arguments for the incorrectness of the assessment. The tax office will then review your appeal and make any necessary corrections.
Overall, it is important to fill out your tax return carefully and conscientiously to avoid errors. If discrepancies still arise, you have the options of appeal and correction available to you.
I hope this information has been helpful to you and I am available to answer any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Anneliese Schaaf
