Understanding a German tax assessment: what PortoDoc summarises for you

Why is a German tax notice hard to read?

A tax assessment notice (Steuerbescheid) from the tax office (Finanzamt). Several pages, packed with sections of law, calculations and cross-references. You live abroad, your tax adviser has no time right now, and the deadline for an objection (Einspruch) is running.

What does it actually say? Do I need to do anything? By when?

For Germans abroad, and for anyone who does not read German well, there is also the language barrier: an adviser where you live may not read German, and a professional translation costs time and money. The main parts of such a letter: our guide on how to read a letter from the German tax office.

What does PortoDoc make of it?

Imagine your PortoDoc online account shows an overview like this one (an illustrative example, not a real notice):

The deadline lines in this example come from the AI deadline hint, which is available from the Business plan. They are a non-binding aid: the letter itself is what counts, and you (or your tax adviser) check every deadline yourself.

At a glance you see what the letter is about and where to look first, instead of working through every page before you even know whether it is urgent.

What does PortoDoc help you with?

1. A summary in plain language

Official German becomes plain language: depending on your plan, you get an AI summary. It is an aid, not tax advice; the original letter counts.

It is not a word-for-word translation, but an explanation that helps you see what has happened, what you may need to do and by when.

2. AI deadline hint (from the Business plan)

Many official letters contain a deadline. From the Business plan, an AI deadline hint marks possible deadlines: a non-binding aid. The letter itself is what counts, and you (or your tax adviser) check every deadline yourself.

Typical deadlines in official letters are:

• deadlines for an objection
• payment deadlines
• filing deadlines
• deadlines to reply

You get an e-mail notification when a new letter arrives. PortoDoc does not monitor deadlines for you, and the AI deadline hint does not replace deadline monitoring.

3. Traffic light for urgency

An AI-based, non-binding traffic light helps you sort your post:

• Red = urgent: for example notices with an objection deadline, payment reminders, audit orders
• Yellow = action needed: for example requests for information, invoices, advance payment notices
• Green = for information: general notices, information leaflets

You see at a glance what looks urgent and what can wait. The letter itself remains decisive.

4. Translation into English

Read your letters in English. Every plan includes an English AI translation: a non-binding aid. You can then read the summary, the deadline hints and the suggestions in English, without having to send every letter to a translation agency first; for anything binding, the German original counts.

5. Everything searchable

Looking for a file reference (Aktenzeichen), an amount or a sender? Your letters are searchable in your online account, so you find what you need.

Why does this matter?

A missed deadline can lead to financial disadvantages: late payment surcharges (Säumniszuschlag, 1 % of the overdue tax, rounded down to the nearest €50, for each month or part of a month, § 240 AO), notices that become final, and lost rights of objection (the objection period is one month, § 355 AO).

A single overlooked tax notice can cost you a lot of money. PortoDoc helps by getting your letters to you as PDFs and making them easier to understand. Keeping track of deadlines remains your job, or your tax adviser's.

What happens to your data?

• Servers in the EU (Hetzner, Finland)
• After scanning, nobody at PortoDoc has access to your post. The analysis runs automatically.
• Originals are kept safely for 90 days after scanning and then destroyed

Which plan includes what?

Translation in every plan: every plan includes an English AI translation; depending on your plan, you also get an AI summary: non-binding aids. The plans:

• Starter: €19.95 a month, 10 letters, 1 authority as authorised recipient
• Business: €49.95 a month, 25 letters, AI deadline hints, any number of authorities
• Enterprise: €79.95 a month, 50 letters

Each extra letter above your monthly allowance costs €2.95. There is no set-up fee, you can cancel monthly, and if you pay annually you pay 10 monthly prices.

Not a business address: the address is not a business, registered-office or imprint address. You can compare the plans on our pricing page.