How do I retrieve my tax data from the tax office in VAT GPT?

Open the year in the "Income Tax" menu, choose "Import from the tax office" under the data source, confirm the consent and click "Request access". The activation code arrives by post; after activating it you import your data.

Last updated: 29 October 2026

In brief

  • Where: "Income Tax" menu, area "Import data" with the source "Import from the tax office".
  • You need: your "Tax ID" and your "Date of birth".
  • Activation code: In real use the tax office sends it by post; this can take several days.
  • Then: With "Enter the code" and "Activate" you grant the authorization, then VAT GPT imports your data.

What can I retrieve from the tax office?

On retrieval VAT GPT fetches data held for you by the tax administration, such as master data and receipts. The data comes from reports that employers, health insurers and other bodies send to the tax administration under § 93c AO. Under "Import data" you choose which to take over:

  • "Master data only"
  • "Selected data"
  • "All available data"

What the retrieval is for is explained in Pre-filled tax return in ELSTER and the ELSTER help on receipt retrieval (German).

What this means for you: You do not retype existing data, but you check every imported figure.

How do I request access step by step?

  1. Open "Income Tax" in the menu and pick the tax year.
  2. Under "Import data" choose what to take over: "Master data only", "Selected data" or "All available data".
  3. Under the data source choose "Import from the tax office". If you already have a return for the previous year in VAT GPT, you can alternatively take the data over from it.
  4. Enter your "Tax ID" and your "Date of birth".
  5. Tick "I agree that VATGPT may retrieve my tax data from the tax office."
  6. Click "Request access". It then shows "Access requested on" with the date.
  7. Wait for the activation code from the tax office, which comes by post.
  8. Enter the code at "Enter the code" and click "Activate". If the code is wrong, VAT GPT shows "{n} attempts remaining."
  9. Click "Import". On success you see "Data successfully imported."

What this means for you: Plan several days of lead time if you need the data for your income tax return; without a tax adviser, § 149 (2) AO sets the deadline at 31 July of the following year.

What if the code does not arrive or expires?

If the code does not arrive, first wait for the days shown in VAT GPT. If the access is no longer valid, VAT GPT says so and you click "Request again". If you already filed a request for this tax ID today, VAT GPT asks you to try again tomorrow.

What this means for you: Request access early, not shortly before the deadline.

How safe is the retrieval?

You give the consent yourself with the tick box and activate the access with a code that only the tax office sends to your address. VAT GPT shows you the retrieved data for checking before you take it into the return.

What this means for you: Without your code and your consent VAT GPT retrieves nothing.

How VAT GPT helps

  1. Fill in: You confirm the consent, enter your tax ID and date of birth and request access.
  2. Check: You enter the activation code, import the data and check every imported figure.
  3. Send: The data flows into the income tax return; you send the return with VAT GPT Pro.

There is Free, Go (30 days free with all Pro features) and Pro (sending). Try it for free

No tax advice: This content does not replace individual advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the retrieval take? The activation code comes by post and can take several days; after that the import takes a few minutes.

Do I need an ELSTER certificate for it? The retrieval in VAT GPT runs through the request with tax ID and code; to send the return later you need an ELSTER certificate, see Register for an ELSTER certificate.

Can I retrieve tax assessments? How to retrieve tax assessments in ELSTER is explained in Download a tax assessment in ELSTER.

What if I do not want data from the tax office? Choose the takeover from your previous-year return as the data source, or enter the data yourself.

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