Getting a German tax ID when you live outside Germany

For employees, self-employed people and landlords who are taxed here without a German address

People who live in Germany receive their tax identification number, the Steuer-ID, by post after they register an address. If you are taxed in Germany without living here, for example because you work for a German employer or earn income from a property, no registration office does this for you. A tax office, the Finanzamt, issues the number on request, and your employer may need it for payroll.

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How it works

Register as a non-resident

Get a personal identification number if you work or have dealings in the country without living there.

Some countries give a personal identification number to people who do not live there but need one, for example to work, pay tax, own property or receive benefits. Examples are the Dutch RNI registration with a BSN, the Belgian BIS number, the Spanish NIE for non-residents, the Polish PESEL without address registration and the Icelandic system ID. You usually apply in person with your passport and proof of why you need the number. If you live in the country, register as a resident instead.

Also searched as

non-resident registrationRNI registrationBSN numberBIS numberNIE numberPESEL numberID number for non-residents

At a glance

Offices
21 offices in 5 cities
Book online
At 3 of 21 offices
Apply online
At 3 of 21 offices
Offices for specific groups
  • For non-residents: 1 office

Some offices advise in person, others work online or by post

Tax offices that deal with non-residents

A tax ID for someone living abroad comes from a Finanzamt, not from the registration office. Cities such as Berlin, Augsburg and Chemnitz have offices that take these requests, each with its own routine.

See the tax offices

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For people who already live in Germany and move to a new home. See how to update your registered address and which office takes it.

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For anyone moving into a home in Germany from another country. See what the registration involves and which office in your city deals with it.

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Certificate of your registered address

For anyone who has to show where they live. See what the certificate covers and which office in your city issues it.

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Offices that issue tax IDs to non-residents

Browse the tax offices that deal with people taxed in Germany but living abroad, and check how to contact each one before you set out.

Non-resident tax ID offices in Germany

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