Anlage V deadline for non-resident landlords

When foreign owners should file and when to use a Steuerberater

Updated 5 June 2026 7 min read

1. The normal self-filing deadline

For regular self-filed German income tax returns, §149 AO points to the 31 July deadline after the tax year. Anlage V is not a standalone filing; it is part of the income tax return. Always check the exact tax-year deadline because temporary extensions can change the date for specific years.

2. Why non-residents should start earlier

Foreign landlords often need more time for ELSTER access, postal verification, Steuernummer questions, purchase documents, mortgage interest statements, building and land split, and German-language evidence. Waiting until July creates avoidable filing risk.

3. Example timeline

For tax year 2025, a self-filing landlord should treat spring 2026 as preparation season: collect 2025 rent statements, Hausgeld reconciliation, interest certificates, repairs, Grundsteuer and AfA basis before copying numbers into ELSTER.

4. What Anlage V Easy prepares

Anlage V Easy prepares the rental-income figures, AfA schedule, expense grouping and ELSTER line-by-line report. It does not submit to ELSTER, request extensions, answer Finanzamt letters or replace a Steuerberater for late or disputed cases.

Common questions

What is the short answer on Anlage V deadline for non-resident landlords?

For a standard self-filed German income tax return, the Anlage V deadline is normally 31 July of the following year. If a Steuerberater files, the deadline is usually later. Non-resident landlords should still prepare early because ELSTER access, Steuernummer questions, AfA records and foreign-address mail can slow the first filing.

What should I know about the normal self-filing deadline?

For regular self-filed German income tax returns, §149 AO points to the 31 July deadline after the tax year. Anlage V is not a standalone filing; it is part of the income tax return. Always check the exact tax-year deadline because temporary extensions can change the date for specific years.

What should I know about why non-residents should start earlier?

Foreign landlords often need more time for ELSTER access, postal verification, Steuernummer questions, purchase documents, mortgage interest statements, building and land split, and German-language evidence. Waiting until July creates avoidable filing risk.

When should a foreign landlord use a Steuerberater instead?

Use a Steuerberater for complex ownership, short-term rental with services, sale-year issues, inheritance, treaty conflicts, disputes with the Finanzamt, or any case where the tax position needs personal advice.

Last reviewed: by Yann Lephay.