Steuerring

Steuerring e.V. (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein) is a German registered association that provides income tax assistance to employees, civil servants, pensioners, trainees, and other qualifying individuals. It is one of the three largest Lohnsteuerhilfevereine in Germany, with roughly 400,000 members and over 1,100 advisory offices across the country. The association was founded in 1969 as Lohnsteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V. in Leutershausen an der Bergstraße, moved its headquarters to Hamburg in 1973, and later relocated to Darmstadt in 1979. It was recognized as a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein under §14 of the German Tax Advisory Act (StBerG) in 1976. In 2005 it changed its name to Lohn- und Einkommensteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V., and in 2025 it adopted the current name Steuerring e.V. (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein). The association's services cover the full range of income tax matters for its members: analyzing individual tax situations, preparing income tax returns, reviewing tax assessments, filing objections against incorrect assessments, and representing members in tax court proceedings, including before the Federal Constitutional Court. It also advises on tax class selection, retirement provisions (Riester and Rürup pensions), child benefit claims, and the flat tax on capital gains. Membership is required to use these services, and by law only certain groups may join, such as employees, civil servants, trainees, pensioners, retirees, maintenance recipients, and unemployment benefit recipients. Members with capital income, rental income, or speculative gains may only be advised up to an annual limit of €18,000 (or €36,000 for married couples) from these sources. Steuerring operates on a membership fee model. Members pay an annual fee plus a one-time admission fee of €14. The fees are socially graduated based on annual gross income, ranging from €60 for annual gross income up to €10,000 to €450 for annual gross income over €200,000. The fee schedule was last amended on 1 January 2022. The association has been certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 since 2008. In 2009, Steuerring successfully fought for the retention of the commuter allowance (Pendlerpauschale) before the Federal Constitutional Court, a ruling with far-reaching consequences for German commuters. The association is led by a board, with Christian Munzel serving as board spokesman (Vorstandssprecher).

The institution of Lohnsteuerhilfevereine (income tax assistance associations) was created by the German legislature in 1964 to provide affordable tax advice to employees. Steuerring was founded in 1969 as Lohnsteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V. in Leutershausen an der Bergstraße. In 1973, the association moved its headquarters to Hamburg and introduced electronic data processing. It received recognition as a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein under §14 of the German Tax Advisory Act (StBerG) in 1976. In 1979, the headquarters moved to Darmstadt, at which time the association had around 30,000 members. Following German reunification, numerous advisory offices were opened in the new federal states in 1990, and by 1993 membership had grown to 130,000. In 2005, the association changed its name to Lohn- und Einkommensteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V. Since 2008, it has been a certified Lohnsteuerhilfeverein according to DIN EN ISO 9001, certified by DQS GmbH. In 2009, Steuerring achieved a significant legal victory by securing the retention of the commuter allowance (Pendlerpauschale) before the Federal Constitutional Court, a ruling with lasting consequences for German commuters. In 2025, the association was renamed Steuerring e.V. (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein). Today it is one of the three largest Lohnsteuerhilfevereine in Germany, with around 400,000 members and over 1,100 advisory offices.

• 2025

  Renamed Steuerring e.V. (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein).

• 2022

  Fee schedule amended on 1 January 2022.

• 2009

  Won retention of the commuter allowance (Pendlerpauschale) before the Federal Constitutional Court.

• 2008

  Certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 by DQS GmbH.

• 2005

  Renamed Lohn- und Einkommensteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V.

• 1993

  Membership reaches 130,000.

• 1990

  Numerous advisory offices opened in the new federal states.

• 1979

  Headquarters moved to Darmstadt; around 30,000 members.

• 1976

  Recognized as a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein under §14 StBerG.

• 1973

  Headquarters moved to Hamburg; electronic data processing introduced.

• 1969

  Founded as Lohnsteuer Hilfe-Ring Deutschland e.V. in Leutershausen an der Bergstraße.

• 1964

  German legislature creates the institution of Lohnsteuerhilfevereine.

Affordable, member-oriented income tax assistance with a nationwide network of local advisory offices.

• Individual tax situation analysis

• Income tax return preparation

• Review of tax assessments

• Objection procedures against incorrect assessments

• Tax court representation (up to Federal Constitutional Court)

• Advice on tax class selection

• Retirement provision advice (Riester and Rürup pensions)

• Child benefit claim review and application

• Advice on flat tax on capital gains

• Year-round tax support

1. 1Lohnsteuerhilfeverein Steuerringsteuerring.de
2. 2Steuerring: Deutschlands großer Lohnsteuerhilfevereinsteuerring.de
3. 3Steuerring (Wikidata)wikidata.org
4. 4Steuerring (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org