ELSTER Anlage V walkthrough in English

TL;DR —This guide walks through the exact ELSTER screens you'll see when you submit Anlage V for tax year 2025. If you have Anlage V Easy's preparation report open, you can copy field-by-field in about 10 minutes.

Before you start

• Your ELSTER certificate file (.pfx) and its password
• The Anlage V Easy preparation report (each Zeile → value)
• About 10 minutes and a quiet browser tab

Step 1 · Log in to elster.de

Open elster.de. Click Login at the top right. Upload your .pfx certificate file and type your password.

Step 2 · Open your tax year

From the dashboard: Formulare & Leistungen → Einkommensteuer → Einkommensteuererklärung für beschränkt steuerpflichtige Personen (ESt 1 C) → Veranlagungszeitraum 2025. Do not choose the familiar ESt 1 A unless you have established that you qualify and are applying for unlimited-liability treatment under §1 Abs. 3 EStG.

Step 3 · How to find and add Anlage V in ELSTER

In the left tree, click Anlagen hinzufügen. If the list is long, use the search field and type Anlage V or Vermietung und Verpachtung. Choose Anlage V - Einkünfte aus Vermietung und Verpachtung. If you own several rental properties, add one Anlage V per property; if your case involves Ferienwohnung or services, stop and use a Steuerberater.

Step 4 · Fill property identification (Zeile 4–12)

Copy the property address, Grundsteuer file reference if known, notary contract date, and any usage or living-area details from your preparation report. Keep the economic-transfer date in your AfA file even when the form asks for the notary-contract date.

Step 5 · Enter gross rent (Zeile 13 & 20)

Zeile 13 = annual Kaltmiete actually received. Zeile 20 = Nebenkosten collected from the tenant. Cash basis, not accrual — use what hit the bank account.

Step 6 · Enter Werbungskosten (Zeile 46, 55, 73–82)

Deductible expenses are split across several Zeilen. Each category is a separate line in the preparation report. If a category is 0 €, leave the field empty.

Step 7 · Enter AfA (Zeile 33 or 34, then 35)

AfA is the line that most people underclaim. Our engine has already applied §7 Abs. 4 EStG (2 %, 2.5 %, or 3 %), split the land from the building, and pro-rated the first year to the month you acquired. For a fully rented property with directly attributable AfA, enter the amount in Zeile 33. If the building is only partly rented and the AfA is allocated proportionally, enter the full amount and deductible rental percentage in Zeile 34. In both cases, enter the deductible AfA result in Zeile 35.

Step 8 · Run the plausibility check

Click Alle Eingaben prüfen. ELSTER runs a server-side validator and flags inconsistent numbers. Red = blocking error, amber = warning. You do not need a zero amber count, but every red must be resolved.

Step 9 · Submit (Abschicken)

Click Abschicken. ELSTER will re-prompt for your certificate file. After a successful submission, download the PDF confirmation (Übermittlungsprotokoll) and save it with your records.

Step 10 · Wait for the Bescheid

The Finanzamt sends a paper or electronic Bescheid within 4–12 weeks. It confirms your net rental income and any refund or payment due. Keep it: it is the legal proof of your filing. If the Bescheid disagrees with your numbers, you have one month to lodge an Einspruch (objection).

Last reviewed: 19 June 2026 by Yann Lephay.