One of the most common questions freelancers and directors in Germany have is not how to submit something, but how long to wait before assuming something has gone wrong. German authorities do not publish uniform response deadlines. Processing times vary by authority, by city, by the complexity of the case, and by the time of year.
This guide gives realistic expectations for each major authority, explains when the wait is still normal, and covers the formal escalation options once a reasonable threshold has been passed. For a broader view of which German authority tasks are worth handing off entirely, see our guide to Behördengang outsourcing.
Finanzamt
What you submitted: Tax return, Einspruch, document request response, or general correspondence.
Realistic wait time:
In most cases, tax returns are processed within 2 weeks to 4 months. 95% of all returns fall within this range. The fastest Finanzämter average around 30 to 40 days. The slowest, including Berlin International, have averaged over 90 days. Returns submitted electronically via ELSTER are processed faster than paper submissions.
When to follow up: After 8 weeks with no Steuerbescheid, a phone call to your local Finanzamt is reasonable. After 3 to 4 months, a written follow-up via the ELSTER contact form is the appropriate next step.
The escalation threshold: After 6 months with no decision, a formal Untätigkeitseinspruch is available under § 347 AO. After a further 6 months without resolution, an Untätigkeitsklage before the Finanzgericht becomes available.
For context on what a deeper Finanzamt investigation looks like and how to respond, see our guide to what to look out for if the Finanzamt is investigating you. If your underlying filing has errors that are causing the delay, see our guide to correcting wrong tax filings in Germany. For options to extend your filing deadline before the process begins, see our guide to how to legally delay your tax return filing in Germany.
If an unpaid Steuerbescheid has led to enforcement action, our guide to Vollstreckung from the Finanzamt covers the enforcement timeline and how to halt it.
How long should I wait for a response?
The honest answer differs by authority and by what you submitted. The table below gives the working thresholds:
Authority
Normal wait
Follow-up appropriate
Formal escalation available
Finanzamt (Steuerbescheid)
2 to 16 weeks
After 8 weeks
After 6 months (Untätigkeitseinspruch)
Finanzamt (Einspruch)
4 to 12 weeks
After 6 weeks
After 6 months (Untätigkeitseinspruch)
Familienkasse (Kindergeld)
4 to 10 weeks
After 6 weeks
After 6 months (Untätigkeitsklage)
Krankenkasse (Kostenerstattung)
3 to 4 weeks
After 4 weeks
After 5 weeks (deemed approved, § 13 SGB V)
Bürgeramt (Meldebescheinigung)
Immediate
N/A
N/A
Bürgeramt (Personalausweis)
4 to 6 weeks
After 6 weeks
Contact office directly
Familienkasse
Realistic wait time: Kindergeld applications are processed within 4 to 6 weeks in most standard cases. The Familienkasse’s own confirmed average is 50 working days (approximately 10 weeks). Cases with international elements or complex income situations take longer.
The critical timing issue: Kindergeld can only be paid retroactively for a maximum of 6 months. A stalled application costs you real money the longer it runs unresolved. After 6 months with no decision, a formal Untätigkeitsklage is available under § 46 FGO.
For the full breakdown of Familienkasse contact routes, escalation paths, and what to do when they stop responding, see our dedicated guide to how to reach the Familienkasse when they don’t respond.
Krankenkasse
Realistic wait times by request type:
Krankenkasse switch: Since the Faire-Kassenwahl-Gesetz 2021, the process is largely automated. You should receive both a cancellation confirmation and a new membership certificate within two to four weeks of applying. If either has not arrived within three weeks, follow up with the new provider directly.
Reimbursement claims (Kostenerstattung): The statutory deadline under § 13 SGB V is five weeks. If no decision arrives within this period without justification, the claim is deemed approved. Most decisions arrive within three to four weeks for straightforward claims.
General correspondence: Two to four weeks. The Krankenkasse member portal is the fastest route for non-urgent contact.
For the full process of switching health insurance providers in Germany, including notice periods and what the new Krankenkasse handles on your behalf, see our guide to how to change your health insurance provider in Germany.
Bürgeramt
Realistic wait times:
Meldebescheinigung: Issued immediately at the appointment. No waiting period.
Anmeldung/Ummeldung: Completed at the appointment. Your new address is transmitted to the Finanzamt automatically within a few days to two weeks.
Personalausweis: Four to six weeks for production. A temporary document is issued at the appointment confirming the application.
Appointment availability: In major cities, slots book out two to four weeks in advance. Booking confirmation within 14 days of moving in meets the Anmeldung deadline, even if the appointment falls later.
For the full guide to address registration in Germany, including what documents you need and what freelancers and directors must do after moving, see our guide to how to register your address in Germany.
The general rules across all German authorities
Written records beat phone calls. A phone follow-up is useful for a status check. A written follow-up via the authority’s online portal or tracked post creates a documented record that matters if you need to demonstrate you chased the case.
Electronic submissions are processed faster. Consistently true across the Finanzamt, Familienkasse, and Krankenkasse. Where a portal or ELSTER submission is available, use it over post.
Response times are not fixed by law for most submissions. The Finanzamt has no statutory deadline for processing your tax return. Knowing when patience becomes unreasonable is what separates a slow case from a permanently stalled one.
Peak periods slow everything down. The Finanzamt is busiest between July and October. The Familienkasse peaks around birth registration periods. Submitting outside peak windows produces measurably faster results where you have flexibility on timing.
For a full list of the admin tasks freelancers most commonly hand off to avoid dealing with these timelines themselves, see our Freelancer’s Bürokratie Survival Kit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a legal deadline by which the Finanzamt must process my tax return? No. There is no statutory deadline. However, once 6 months have passed without a decision, a formal Untätigkeitseinspruch is available under § 347 AO.
What happens if the Familienkasse takes longer than 6 months to process my application? The 6-month retroactive payment limit is a hard cap. Months before that window cannot be recovered regardless of how long processing took.
Does the Krankenkasse have to decide on my reimbursement claim within a set period? Yes. Under § 13 SGB V, the Krankenkasse must decide within five weeks. Without justification for the delay, the claim is deemed approved.
What is an Untätigkeitseinspruch? A formal objection filed when an authority has failed to act within a reasonable period. For the Finanzamt, the threshold is generally 6 months. It is the correct formal mechanism for pressing the authority to make a decision before an Untätigkeitsklage becomes necessary.
What if I cannot get through to the authority at all? Each authority has specific contact routes and escalation paths. Tired of chasing German authorities yourself? Richmond Blackwood handles it for you, flat €30 a month. Get in touch and we will take it from here.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Response times vary by authority, location, and individual case complexity. Always take advice from a qualified professional before filing formal escalation steps.
