Steuernummer
The file number your Finanzamt assigns to your tax case.
The Steuernummer is the reference number of your tax file at a specific Finanzamt. It is different from the lifelong Steuer-ID: the Steuernummer identifies the case and can change if another tax office becomes competent. A non-resident landlord usually receives one after the first return or after registering the property with the Finanzamt in whose district it is located. You will find it on every letter and on your Steuerbescheid. ELSTER lets you submit a first return without a Steuernummer by choosing the competent Finanzamt; once you have one, enter it on every later return so the filing lands in the right file. A wrong or missing number is a common reason for delays, not for a tax change.
Last reviewed: by Yann Lephay.