Your tax identification number in Germany

Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (IdNr): The tax ID (IdNr) is a personal number from the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt). Each person gets only one, and it stays the same for life.

Nationwide rules verified on 13 Nov 2026. Responsible: a federal body (nationwide).

You do not apply for the tax ID when you first register in Germany. After you register your address, the registration office sends your data to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), which assigns the number and tells you by letter.

Who:Everyone registered in Germany with a main or only residence. People who live abroad but work for a German employer get it through the employer's tax office instead.

Deadline

No legal deadline found.

Request your tax ID again (BZSt online form) (bzst.de) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026

In your city

This is handled nationwide; the city guides below repeat these rules and link the right local pages where relevant.

Steps

1. Register your address (Anmeldung). The registration office passes your data to the Federal Central Tax Office to assign your tax ID. (Zum Zwecke der erstmaligen Zuteilung der Identifikationsnummer übermitteln die Meldebehörden dem Bundeszentralamt für Steuern ...) § 139b Abs. 6 und 7 AO · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
2. Wait for the letter. The BZSt assigns your tax ID as soon as the registration office has sent it the required data, and sends it by post. (Das BZSt teilt Ihnen Ihre IdNr zu, sobald die Meldebehörde dem BZSt die benötigten Daten übermittelt hat.) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026link unreachable at last check
3. Make sure your surname is on your letterbox, otherwise the letter cannot be delivered. (Für eine erfolgreiche Zustellung muss der Nachname am Briefkasten angebracht sein.) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026link unreachable at last check
4. If you have not received a tax ID three months after registering, send the BZSt a copy of your ID document and your registration confirmation. (Sollte Ihnen trotz Anmeldung bei der Meldebehörde nach drei Monaten keine IdNr mitgeteilt worden sein ...) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026link unreachable at last check

Good to know

• Each person gets only one tax ID, and each number is issued only once. (Eine natürliche Person darf nicht mehr als eine Identifikationsnummer erhalten.) § 139b Abs. 1 AO · Source: gesetze-im-internet.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• The tax ID is valid permanently. It does not change when you move, change your name or your marital status. (einer Person dauerhaft zugeteilt) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• For data protection reasons the tax ID is only sent by letter, not given out by phone or e-mail. (nur per Brief mitgeteilt werden kann) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• Lost the letter? You do not get a new number; the BZSt can send your existing tax ID again on request (online form or by letter). (Auf Anfrage kann das BZSt die IdNr erneut mitteilen.) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026link unreachable at last check
• When requesting it again with the online form, the BZSt currently states that processing can take four weeks because of high demand, or longer if there are follow-up questions. Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026
• If you live abroad and work for a German employer, the employer's tax office (Betriebsstättenfinanzamt) assigns the tax ID, using form 010250. (Antrag auf Vergabe einer steuerlichen Identifikationsnummer für nicht meldepflichtige Personen durch das Finanzamt) Source: bzst.de · as of 13 Nov 2026link unreachable at last check

Legal basis

• § 139b AO: One tax ID per person; the registration offices send data to the Federal Central Tax Office for the first assignment

German terms

Steuerliche Identifikationsnummer (IdNr)

Tax identification number, your permanent personal tax number

Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt)

Federal Central Tax Office, which issues the tax ID

Mitteilungsschreiben

The letter that tells you your tax ID

Meldebehörde

Registration office where you did your Anmeldung

Betriebsstättenfinanzamt

The tax office responsible for your employer's place of business

Finanzamt

Local tax office

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