Practical guide
Changing your tax class
Source text as of 2 September 2026 · General information
Married couples and registered partners can apply to change their tax class combination through ELSTER or the relevant form.
Documents and information to prepare
- Personal details and Steuer-ID of both partners
- Current address and responsible Finanzamt
- Marriage certificate if the tax authority does not already hold the information or the marriage took place abroad
- Main form and Anlage Steuerklassenwechsel for paper applications
- Usually both signatures; an exception applies to a unilateral change from III/V to IV/IV
- Employer and earnings information if needed for clarification
- For tax class II, the single-parent procedure and relevant Anlage Kind
Important to know
A change generally takes effect from the beginning of the month after application. III/V or IV/IV with a factor may create an obligation to file an annual tax return.
Official sources and forms
ELSTER · tax class changeFinanzamt NRW · families and childrenWe provide administrative and language support with forms. Choosing the right tax option and making individual calculations may require an authorised tax adviser.