From BZ/dpa
The tax return has been sent, now it’s time to wait for the decision from the tax office. But how much waiting time is too much? And how can the processing be accelerated?
Although the majority of the tax offices process tax returns submitted within a few weeks, there may be longer waiting times in individual cases. This can be annoying – for example, if you urgently need the repayment. The income tax assistance association United Income Tax Assistance (VLH) points out that there is no fixed deadline for processing a declaration. However, those affected are not completely powerless.
The tip of the wage tax assistance association: If you wait a long time for a response from the tax office, you should first contact the responsible clerk by phone or email. With a bit of luck, a friendly request will go very quickly.
If that doesn’t help, you can climb up the organization chart and send a friendly letter to the head of the responsible tax office, advises the VLH.
These are usually “very concerned” with not letting taxpayers wait unnecessarily long for a response. The tax office could also be given a reasonable period of time for processing.
After a six-month waiting period: objection to inactivity
If none of this helps and if nothing really happens six months after submission, those affected can, under certain conditions, lodge an objection to inaction.
According to the VLH, this should contain the tax number and the submission date of the declaration. It should also state that despite the request, there was no feedback on the facts and that an objection for inaction is therefore being lodged. In the end, the tax office should be asked to process the request quickly and to inform them of the expected processing time.
If the objection to inaction remains unsuccessful and nothing happens for a further six months, those affected can file an action for inaction with the responsible tax court.
“This will then contact the tax office and try to clarify the matter,” said the VLH. The tax office then has the opportunity to grant the objection and process the declaration. If not, the tax court must make a decision on the case.
Important: Anyone who is obliged to file a tax return cannot take the path of objecting to inaction. This is only possible for declarations submitted voluntarily.