Can I Get a German Tax ID Without Anmeldung?

For almost everyone moving to Germany, the answer is no: you cannot get your tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer, or Steuer-ID) issued until you have completed your Anmeldung (address registration). Registering your address is the event that triggers the tax ID — the tax office does not issue one on request to a new resident who has not yet registered.

Who this applies to#

• Applies to: anyone moving to Germany who will register an address and needs their tax ID for work.
• Also relevant if: you are starting a job before your Anmeldung appointment.
• Not covered here: people who already lived in Germany before — a lifelong Steuer-ID already exists, and the existing one is re-issued rather than a new one.

Why Anmeldung comes first#

The tax ID is defined in § 139a–139b of the Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung, AO) as a permanent number for every person registered as resident in Germany. The mechanism is deliberately automatic:

1. You complete your Anmeldung at the local registration office.
2. The municipality transmits your registration data to the Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt).
3. The BZSt generates your 11-digit Steuer-ID and posts it to your registered address.

Because step 2 depends entirely on step 1, there is no "apply early" path for a new resident. Until you are registered, the office that issues the number has no record to act on.

While the number is pending#

The move is not blocked by the number not having arrived yet. Two common situations:

• Starting work. The employer needs the Steuer-ID to run payroll at the correct rate. Under § 39c EStG, where the tax-ID (ELStAM) data is not yet available and the delay is not attributable to the employee, the employer may apply the presumed tax class provisionally for up to three calendar months. After that period, or where the employee does not supply the data, tax class VI applies until it is provided. Once the number is supplied, any overpayment is reconciled.
• Opening a bank account. A German bank account does not require the Steuer-ID to open, though some banks ask for it later for interest-reporting. It is not a blocker at sign-up.

What changes by city#

The tax ID itself is federal — the same BZSt issues it identically whether you land in Munich or Cologne. What actually varies between cities is how quickly you can complete the Anmeldung that triggers it:

• Munich (KVR / Bürgerbüro) and Frankfurt (Bürgeramt) — appointments are typically booked online in advance, with longer lead times in peak months.
• Berlin (Bürgeramt) — appointment availability is the well-known bottleneck; the wait to register, not the tax ID, is usually what delays people.
• Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne — appointment systems and lead times differ office to office.

The variable that affects tax ID timing is the Anmeldung appointment, not the tax office.

What changes by visa track#

The Steuer-ID is tied to residence, not to your visa. Whether you enter on an EU/EEA passport, an EU Blue Card (§ 18g AufenthG), a skilled-worker permit, or a student visa, the number is issued the same way after Anmeldung. Your permit affects when you may enter and register — but once you have registered, the tax ID follows the same automatic route for everyone.

What people often miss#

• The number cannot be rushed on request — it is system-generated after registration, and no office can pull it forward.
• The tax ID depends on the Anmeldung, so a late Anmeldung appointment moves the whole timeline back with it.
• The letter can be missed where the recipient's name is not on the mailbox at the registered address.

Frequently asked questions#

This is general information about German rules and procedures, not tax or legal advice. For your own situation, speak to a Steuerberater or a lawyer.