Taxation.ai vs WISO Steuer (2025): German Tax Software Compared

Compare Taxation.ai and WISO Steuer for filing German taxes. Features, pricing, and language support for expats and German residents.

Feature Comparison

FeatureTaxation.aiWISO Steuer
AI-Powered Filing
German Tax Support
English LanguageLimited (primarily German)
Multi-Country5 countriesGermany only
ELSTER IntegrationVia ELSTERDirect ELSTER submission
Document OCRAI-poweredBelegerkennung (receipt scan)
SteuertippsAI suggestions in EnglishExtensive (in German)
Desktop App
Vorab-BerechnungReal-time calculationPreliminary calculation
API Access

Taxation.ai Pricing

free $0
pro $29/mo
firm $79/mo

WISO Steuer Pricing

wiso steuer_web €29.95/year
wiso steuer_start €16.99
wiso steuer_sparbuch €29.95
wiso steuer_mac €29.95

Taxation.ai Strengths

  • Full English language support
  • AI-powered automation
  • Multi-country filing (great for expats)
  • Modern web interface
  • No installation required
  • Professional features available

Areas for improvement

  • Less detailed German tax knowledge than WISO
  • Fewer Germany-specific tips and suggestions
  • No direct ELSTER desktop integration
  • Newer to German tax system

WISO Steuer Strengths

  • 30+ years of German tax expertise
  • Extensive Steuertipps (tax tips) database
  • Deep ELSTER integration
  • Covers all German tax situations
  • Offline desktop option
  • Very affordable (€29.95/year)
  • Used by millions of Germans
  • Excellent Stiftung Warentest ratings

Drawbacks

  • Primarily German language only
  • Germany-only (can't file in other countries)
  • Desktop-first design
  • No AI automation
  • No professional/firm features
  • Interface can feel cluttered

Our Verdict

For German-speaking residents filing only German taxes, WISO Steuer is hard to beat—it's affordable, comprehensive, and deeply integrated with the German tax system. For English-speaking expats in Germany, people who file in multiple countries, or those who want AI-powered automation, Taxation.ai is the better choice. The language barrier alone makes WISO impractical for many international workers in Germany.

German Tax Software: Local Champion vs. Global Platform

WISO Steuer (by Buhl Data) is Germany's most popular tax software, used by millions of Germans to file their annual Steuererklärung. It's consistently rated as the top tax software by Stiftung Warentest (Germany's consumer testing organization) and offers deep integration with the German tax system.

Taxation.ai is a global platform that supports German tax filing alongside US, UK, French, and Dutch taxes—with full English language support.

Understanding German Tax Filing

Before comparing the products, context is important. German tax filing (Einkommensteuererklärung) differs significantly from US filing:

  • Not everyone is required to file (many employees have taxes fully handled via Lohnsteuer)
  • Filing is done through ELSTER (the official electronic filing system)
  • The tax year follows the calendar year, with filing typically due July 31
  • Average refund for voluntary filers is approximately €1,000
  • The system includes unique elements like Kirchensteuer, Solidaritätszuschlag, and Werbungskosten

    • Pricing

    WISO Steuer (2025)

  • WISO Steuer-Web: €29.95/year (browser-based)
  • WISO Steuer-Start: €16.99 (simple returns, desktop)
  • WISO Steuer-Sparbuch: €29.95 (full featured, Windows)
  • WISO Steuer-Mac: €29.95 (full featured, Mac)

    • All versions cover one tax year. You need to purchase annually.

    Taxation.ai (2025)

  • Free: $0 — basic German filing included
  • Pro: $29/month — full features
  • Firm: $79/month — professional tools

    • WISO is slightly cheaper for German-only filing. However, Taxation.ai's free tier covers basic German returns at no cost.

    The Language Factor

    This is the most significant differentiator for many potential users. WISO Steuer is designed for German speakers. While the interface is well-designed, everything—instructions, tips, form descriptions, support—is in German. For the approximately 5 million foreign residents in Germany, many of whom don't speak fluent German, this is a major barrier.

    Taxation.ai provides full English language support for German tax filing. Every instruction, tip, and form description is in English, with German tax terms explained clearly. For expats, international workers, and anyone more comfortable in English, this removes a significant obstacle.

    German Tax Expertise

    WISO Steuer has 30+ years of German tax knowledge baked into its product. Their Steuertipps system provides hundreds of specific suggestions for German tax savings—from Werbungskosten (work-related expenses) to Handwerkerleistungen (craftsman services) to Sonderausgaben (special expenses). This depth of local knowledge is genuinely impressive.

    Taxation.ai provides AI-powered suggestions that cover major German deductions and credits. Our coverage is growing but doesn't yet match WISO's encyclopedic German tax tip database. We focus on the deductions that matter most and explain them clearly in English.

    Multi-Country Advantage

    Here's where Taxation.ai shines: many expats in Germany have tax obligations in multiple countries. A US citizen working in Germany needs to file both US and German returns. A Dutch person who moved to Germany mid-year may need to file in both countries.

    WISO Steuer handles German taxes only. You'd need separate software for each country.

    Taxation.ai handles US, UK, German, French, and Dutch taxes in one platform. For internationally mobile workers, this eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and the confusion of coordinating returns across countries.

    Technology

    WISO Steuer offers both desktop and web versions. The desktop versions (Sparbuch, Mac) offer offline capability and feel snappy. The web version (Steuer-Web) is browser-based but doesn't use AI for automation.

    Taxation.ai is cloud-based and AI-powered. Document upload, OCR, and intelligent form filling are built in. No installation required, accessible from any device.

    ELSTER Integration

    WISO Steuer integrates directly with ELSTER, Germany's electronic tax filing system. You can submit your return directly from within WISO with your ELSTER certificate.

    Taxation.ai generates ELSTER-compatible submissions. The process is slightly less seamless but achieves the same result.

    Who Should Choose WISO Steuer?

  • You speak German fluently
  • You only file German taxes
  • You want the deepest possible German tax tips
  • You prefer a desktop application
  • You want the cheapest option for German filing
  • You value Stiftung Warentest's top ratings

    • Who Should Choose Taxation.ai?

  • You prefer English-language tax filing
  • You file in multiple countries (not just Germany)
  • You want AI-powered document processing
  • You're an expat who needs guidance in English
  • You want a modern, web-based experience
  • You need professional features

    • Our Honest Take

    WISO Steuer is excellent software. For German-speaking residents filing only German taxes, it's the best value on the market—affordable, comprehensive, and refined over decades. We respect what Buhl Data has built.

    But WISO wasn't built for the increasingly international workforce in Germany. The millions of expats, digital nomads, and internationally mobile workers who need English-language support and multi-country filing capability are underserved by German-only tools.

    Taxation.ai fills that gap. We may not match WISO's depth of German-specific tips yet, but we provide something WISO can't: a fully English, AI-powered, multi-country tax platform that makes German filing accessible to everyone.

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