Administrative services A-Z

Forms: none

Online procedure possible: yes

Written form required: yes

Personal appearance required: no

• "Application for wage tax reduction" in the Federal Tax Administration's forms management system in the "Tax forms" section under "Wage tax (employees)"
• Online application via ELSTER

Your tax class will automatically be changed to tax class III from the first month following the date of death of your spouse or partner (hereinafter referred to as "partner"). In the following year, you will also remain in tax class III.
However, you will not be placed in tax class III if you were permanently separated at the time of death. From the beginning of the second calendar year after the death of your partner, you will be placed in tax class I.

Instead of tax class I, you may be eligible for the more favorable tax class II if you are entitled to the relief amount for single parents. You can apply for classification in tax class II at your local tax office.

Please note:
Since the law introducing the right to marry for people of the same sex came into force on October 1, 2017, new civil partnerships can no longer be established in Germany. Same-sex couples have been able to marry each other since this date and are therefore on an equal footing with opposite-sex couples.
Existing civil partnerships can be converted into a marriage. However, there is no obligation to do so. Existing civil partnerships can be continued in their current form.

You and your deceased partner were not living apart permanently at the time of death.

You do not need to submit any documents.

There are no costs for you.

You do not have to do anything to maintain tax class III after the death of your partner. The registration office will inform the Federal Central Tax Office of any changes in marital status.
If you wish to be placed in tax class II, you can apply for this. Proceed as follows:

• In the forms management system of the Federal Tax Administration, select the appropriate application form in the "Tax forms" section under "Income tax (employees)": "Application for income tax reduction" with the children annex for the relevant year
• Complete the application on the electronic device or print it out by hand and sign it.
• Send the application by post to your local tax office.
• You will receive a notification.

Alternatively, you can also apply for classification in tax class II online and barrier-free via ELSTER. ELSTER is a barrier-free and platform-independent access to the electronic services of the tax administration.
You need a certificate for electronic authenticated transmission. You will receive this following your registration on ELSTER. Please note that the registration process can take up to 2 weeks.

You do not have to meet any deadlines.

Residents' registration office, tax office of your place of residence

• BZSt - Tax office search

• § Section 38b of the Income Tax Act (EStG)

• Information on "Wage tax deduction using the electronic wage tax deduction features procedure" on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF letter dated 8.11.2018)
• Information on the relief amount for single parents and unmarried parents on a website of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs
• Programs for electronic transmission on ELSTER
• Forms on ELSTER

Federal Ministry of Finance