Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer: what’s the difference and when you get each

Your Steuer-ID is the permanent tax number that follows you everywhere – you can’t get a normal bank account or receive a salary without it – while a Steuernummer is a local tax number you only need if you start bringing in self-employed income. Here is what these identifiers look like on paper, when you will need both, and how to get them in Germany.

Steuer-ID vs Steuernummer: a quick breakdown

The Steuer-ID is an 11-digit permanent number issued by the BZSt; the Steuernummer is a 10–13-digit local number issued by your Finanzamt and changes when you move. Check this overview:

Once the paperwork is out of the way, managing your money gets much easier. With your official numbers sorted and your bank account up and running, you can finally start sending money back home to your family, managing your accounts across borders, or paying people who help with your business back home.

When you need to send money from Germany, Profee runs completely in the background as a quick, dependable online service. We handle transfers to over 90 destinations globally, so your family gets the funds when and where they need them.

The Steuer-ID (Your permanent tax number)

The Steuer-ID (short for Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer or IdNr.) is your 11-digit unique federal tax identifier.

Every individual registered in Germany gets one – it’s the baseline code for living here. You will need your Steuer-ID to open a German bank account, register for health insurance, or apply for state benefits like child allowance (Kindergeld) and parental leave (Elterngeld), and so on – without it, these processes simply don’t start.

If you are a traditional employee, your employer will ask for this number immediately. They plug it into the official employer declaration form to calculate your monthly payroll, which ensures the state deducts the correct amount of wage tax rather than guessing.

Warning: If you don't provide your Steuer-ID to your employer, they are legally required to put you into Tax Class VI. This is the highest possible tax bracket (up to 40-50% withholding in 2026), when a huge part of your paycheck disappears into taxes until you give them the number to sort it out.

Key Steuer-ID characteristics:

• It’s an 11-digit identifier that stays with you from your first registration until you leave the country.
• It doesn’t change if you move to a new city, change your last name, or get married – it’s completely permanent.
• It’s managed centrally at the federal level by the BZSt, so local offices can’t alter it.

‘What we are seeing now is a law that carries out a reasonable balance between high data protection requirements on the one hand and the feasibility of a solution that works in the practice of everyday life on the other.’ – Prof. Dr. Patrick Ludewig.

The Steuernummer (Your local tax number)

Steuernummer is a 10-13-digit tax number for self-employed, freelancers and business owners that connects you directly to the specific neighbourhood tax office handling your file.

If you are a traditional employee, you will rarely see this number – you only use it when you sit down to file your annual income tax return, when you have self-income.

However, if you are a freelancer, independent contractor, or business owner, your Steuernummer is everything. You can’t legally issue invoices to German clients without printing your Steuernummer on the document – don’t leave it out, or your clients won’t be able to pay you. It’s also a mandatory requirement for your business website’s legal disclosure page (Impressum) – you have to put Steuernummer where everyone can see it.

Key Steuernummer characteristics:

• The format depends on your region, but it always starts with a specific tax office number that identifies your local branch.
• It is highly fluid. If you move across town or to a new city, you will experience a jurisdiction change. Your old local office closes your file, and your new Finanzamt will issue you a completely new Steuernummer. You will have to update every single one of your invoice templates.
• You can even have multiple Steuernummer at the same time if you run different types of businesses or operate in different districts, so you will need to keep track of which number belongs to which invoice.

Step-by-step guide: How to get both numbers

Getting your Steuer-ID takes 2–4 weeks and requires no active application; your Steuernummer requires submitting the ELSTER questionnaire and takes 2–6 weeks (times are approximate and may change).

How to get your Steuer-ID (Employees & new arrivals)

You don’t need to apply for this number actively – the system triggers it automatically the moment you arrive and complete your address registration (Anmeldung).

1. Register your address: Within 14 days of moving into your flat, you must book a slot at the local town hall (Bürgeramt) for your address registration (Anmeldung). Make sure you have your passport and your landlord's confirmation form (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) ready.
2. Wait for the mail: The Bürgeramt automatically forwards your details to the BZSt behind the scenes. The BZSt generates your 11-digit identifier and prints an official letter.
3. Timeline: The letter will drop into your physical mailbox within 2 to 4 weeks.

If you lose this letter, don’t panic. You can always spot your Steuer-ID printed on your monthly payslips or your annual tax statements. If you need a fresh copy, you can request a replacement letter via a simple online form on the BZSt website, though it takes about 4 weeks to land in your post.

How to get your Steuernummer (Freelancers & businesses)

You have to submit the Tax Registration Questionnaire to the Finanzamt and wait for the official letter with your Steuernummer. The questionnaire must be sent within one month after you’ve launched a business.

1. Register an account on ELSTER (Takes 1–2 weeks): Go to ELSTER, the official online portal of the German tax administration, and select "Create user account" as a private individual. Because German security is strictly paper-based, the portal will send an activation code via physical mail to your registered address to verify who you are.
2. Fill out the Tax Registration Questionnaire (30–45 minutes): Once you log in, locate the  Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung (Tax Registration Questionnaire). You will need to input your personal Steuer-ID, bank details, a description of your business activity, and an estimated projection of your business revenue and personal income.
3. Submit to your local Finanzamt: Submit the digital form directly through the ELSTER portal. Based on your home address, the platform will automatically route the questionnaire to the correct local Finanzamt handling your area.
4. Receive your number by mail (Takes 2–6 weeks): The local tax office will review your business details, register your activity, and post an official letter containing your new Steuernummer directly to your mailbox.

Crucial rule for freelancers and businesses: You can’t legally issue invoices to German clients until this process is complete, as your Steuernummer must be clearly printed on every invoice you send.

The application processes described here are true as of June 2026, but may change over time. Verify the details with the local authorities upon arrival.

Frequently asked questions about Steuer-ID and Steuernummer