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Works on letters in German · Explanations in ENTRARRU

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A real example

From impenetrable German to action in 3 taps.

A real Finanzamt Nachzahlung (Steuerbescheid 2024) — one of the most common official letters in Germany — and exactly what Briefed gives you back.

The letter

Finanzamt München · Steuernr. 143/234/12345 · 12. März 2026

Betreff: Einkommenssteuerbescheid 2024

Sehr geehrter Herr Smith,

hiermit übersenden wir Ihnen den Einkommenssteuerbescheid für das Steuerjahr 2024. Nach Prüfung Ihrer eingereichten Unterlagen und Ihrer Steuererklärung ergibt sich eine Nachzahlung.

Der festgesetzte Einkommensteuerbetrag beträgt € 12.431,00. Abzüglich der geleisteten Vorauszahlungen und des einbehaltenen Lohnsteuerabzugs verbleibt eine Nachzahlung in Höhe von € 847,00.

Bitte überweisen Sie den Betrag bis zum 15. April 2026 auf folgendes Konto: Kontoinhaber: Finanzamt München, IBAN: DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00, BIC: COBADEFFXXX, Verwendungszweck: 143/234/12345.

Die Festsetzung erfolgt gemäß § 155 Abgabenordnung (AO). Sollten Sie mit dem Bescheid nicht einverstanden sein, können Sie innerhalb eines Monats nach Bekanntgabe Einspruch einlegen (§ 347 AO). Der Einspruch ist schriftlich oder zur Niederschrift beim Finanzamt zu erklären.

Bei Zahlungsschwierigkeiten können Sie unter Vorlage einer sachlichen Begründung Stundung (Zahlungsaufschub) oder Ratenzahlung beantragen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Ihr Finanzamt München

What Briefed says

Plain English · with actions

This is your 2024 income tax assessment. You owe €847 after your return was processed.
Briefing
Your rights
Draft reply
Original
Ask
Tax assessment €847 due German
📅 Pay by 15 April 2026 · ~26 days remaining
In one sentence: You owe €847 in additional 2024 income tax — pay by 15 April 2026 or file an Einspruch within one month if the calculation looks wrong.

After processing your Steuererklärung, the Finanzamt set your total 2024 income tax at €12,431. Prepayments and employer wage tax covered most of it, but €847 remains. This is routine — it usually means your final liability was higher than what was withheld monthly. The letter is legally binding (§155 AO).

What you need to do
  • 1Verify Steuernummer, tax year, and Nachzahlungsbetrag on the first page of the Bescheid.
  • 2Transfer €847 to the Finanzamt IBAN before 15 April 2026 using your Steuernummer as reference.
  • 3If you cannot pay in full, request Stundung or Ratenzahlung from the Finanzamt before the deadline.
  • 4If the amount seems wrong, file a written Einspruch within one month of the letter date (§347 AO).

Your legal position on this Steuerbescheid — what you can do, and what to watch for.

!
Important note
Missing the Fälligkeitsdatum triggers Nachzahlungszinsen (currently 1.8% p.a. from 15 months after the tax year). Ignoring the letter can lead to enforced collection.
1
Right to object
You have one month from receipt to file a free written Einspruch (§347 AO) if the assessment or deductions look wrong.
2
Payment relief
You can request Stundung (deferral) or Ratenzahlung (instalments) if paying €847 at once would cause hardship — apply early, in writing.
3
Watch out for
Check that wage tax (Lohnsteuer) and any Sonderausgaben from your employer were credited correctly before you pay.
4
Practical tip
Briefed is not a Steuerberater. For large amounts or complex returns, consult a tax adviser before filing Einspruch.
Confirm & pay File Einspruch Request Ratenzahlung
German English Sync → English
Finanzamt München Betreff: Einkommenssteuerbescheid 2024 — Steuernummer 143/234/12345 Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, ich bestätige den Erhalt Ihres Steuerbescheids vom 12. März 2026 betreffend das Steuerjahr 2024. Ich werde die Nachzahlung in Höhe von € 847,00 bis zum 15. April 2026 auf das in Ihrem Schreiben genannte Konto überweisen. Als Verwendungszweck werde ich meine Steuernummer angeben. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, James Smith

Sehr geehrter Herr Smith,

hiermit übersenden wir Ihnen den Einkommenssteuerbescheid für das Steuerjahr 2024. Nach Prüfung Ihrer eingereichten Unterlagen und Ihrer Steuererklärung ergibt sich eine Nachzahlung.

Der festgesetzte Einkommensteuerbetrag beträgt € 12.431,00. Abzüglich der geleisteten Vorauszahlungen und des einbehaltenen Lohnsteuerabzugs verbleibt eine Nachzahlung in Höhe von € 847,00.

Bitte überweisen Sie den Betrag bis zum 15. April 2026 auf das in diesem Schreiben genannte Konto: Kontoinhaber: Finanzamt München, IBAN: DE89 3704 0044 0532 0130 00, BIC: COBADEFFXXX, Verwendungszweck: 143/234/12345.

Die Festsetzung erfolgt gemäß § 155 Abgabenordnung (AO). Sollten Sie mit dem Bescheid nicht einverstanden sein, können Sie innerhalb eines Monats nach Bekanntgabe Einspruch einlegen (§ 347 AO). Der Einspruch ist schriftlich oder zur Niederschrift beim Finanzamt zu erklären.

Bei Zahlungsschwierigkeiten können Sie unter Vorlage einer sachlichen Begründung Stundung (Zahlungsaufschub) oder Ratenzahlung beantragen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Ihr Finanzamt München

Translate this letter

English translation

Dear Mr Smith,

We are sending you the income tax assessment for the 2024 tax year. After reviewing your submitted documents and tax return, an additional payment of €847.00 is due.

The assessed income tax is €12,431.00. After prepayments and wage tax withheld at source, the remaining amount due is €847.00.

Please transfer the amount by 15 April 2026 to the account stated in the letter. This assessment is issued under §155 German Tax Code (AO). If you disagree, you may file a written objection (Einspruch) within one month of receipt (§347 AO).

If you are unable to pay in full, you may apply for deferral (Stundung) or instalments (Ratenzahlung) with a written explanation.

Yours sincerely, Finanzamt München

What happens if I miss the payment deadline? Can I pay in instalments instead? How do I file an Einspruch?
What we handle

Every letter the German state, your landlord, or your Kasse can throw at you.

Fa.
Finanzamt
Tax assessments, Nachzahlung notices, audit letters, refund notifications.
Decode this type →
Kk.
Krankenkasse
Contribution changes, coverage updates, reimbursement requests, Sonderkündigungsrecht.
Decode this type →
Ew.
Einwohnermeldeamt
Anmeldung, address updates, ID card obligations, residency deadlines.
Decode this type →
§
Court & legal
Mahnbescheid, debt collection, Abmahnung, court summons — the envelopes you dread most.
Decode this type →
Hs.
Landlord letters
Mieterhöhung, Nebenkostenabrechnung, termination notices, repair disputes.
Decode this type →
Jc.
Jobcenter & Arbeitsagentur
Benefit notices, appointment requests, sanctions, Bürgergeld letters.
Decode this type →
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i.

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ii.

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iii.

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Expats who sleep better now

Receipts from people who actually live here.

I got a Mahnbescheid on a Sunday and thought my life was over. Briefed told me it was a billing error from my old gym, gave me a German objection letter, and I sent it the same day.
AP
Aisha P.
Product designer · Berlin · 3 yrs in DE
My Krankenkasse raised my rate and I had no idea I could switch for free. Briefed flagged the Sonderkündigungsrecht — I saved €480 this year just from one letter.
MR
Marco R.
Freelance developer · Munich · 5 yrs in DE
Every Finanzamt envelope used to cost me €80 at the Steuerberater just to translate. Now I only call them when Briefed says the stakes are serious. That's my yearly plan paid back in a week.
LK
Lena K.
Small business owner · Hamburg · 7 yrs in DE
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Questions, politely

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Without an account: 1 detailed + 5 quick every 7 days. That weekly window resets automatically — it is a try-before-you-sign-up allowance, not a monthly quota. With a free account: 5 detailed + 15 quick each calendar month, plus saved history. Paid plans add draft replies and higher limits.

Is this legal advice? +

No. Briefed explains and summarises official letters so you know what you’re looking at. For anything with significant legal or financial stakes (court summons, large tax bills, eviction notices), consult a lawyer or Steuerberater. We’ll tell you in the output when we think that’s warranted.

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Does it work with photos from my phone? +

Yes. JPG, PNG, HEIC, even slightly blurry or angled shots. Briefed OCRs the letter, straightens the text, and ignores the window-envelope frame. For best results, put the letter on a dark surface in even light.

Which languages do you explain letters in? +

Use the site language menu (English, Turkish, Arabic, or Russian) on the homepage or in the app — that sets the explanation language before you upload. Draft replies follow the letter’s language; paid plans can translate drafts between German and English.

What if the letter is NOT in German? +

Briefed is specifically trained on German administrative language (Behördendeutsch). It will handle other official letters in German cities (some Austrian, Swiss, or bilingual Brussels letters work too), but it’s not meant for English-language junk mail.

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