What you should know
With the employee tax assessment – commonly called “Steuerausgleich” or “Lohnsteuerausgleich” – you reclaim overpaid wage tax from the Finanzamt. This is worthwhile, for example, if you did not work the whole year, your income varied, or you can claim expenses such as commuting costs, further training or childcare.
The assessment can be submitted up to five years retrospectively. In some cases it is even mandatory, for example if you had several jobs at the same time or received benefits such as sick pay.
How we help you
- Setting up or accessing FinanzOnline – including with ID Austria
- Filling in the L1 return, including the L1k (children) and L1i supplements
- Recording work-related expenses, the commuter allowance (Pendlerpauschale) & Familienbonus Plus
- Clearly organising your receipts
- Submission, and an explanation of the tax assessment notice in plain words
The documents you need
Please bring the following documents, if you have them. If something is missing, we will find a solution together.
- Payslip summary (L16) or access to FinanzOnline
- Receipts for work-related expenses (e.g. work equipment, training)
- Proof of childcare costs and maintenance payments
- Details of your commute and working hours (commuter allowance)
- Receipts for extraordinary expenses (e.g. medical costs)
- Bank details (IBAN) for the refund
Good to know
- Donations, church contributions and payments for voluntary insurance are usually transmitted automatically – it is still worth checking.
- The automatic employee tax assessment (without application) does not include work-related expenses. Filing your own return often brings more.
Employee tax assessment: help in Baden, Vienna and all of Austria
Do you live in Baden, Bad Vöslau, Traiskirchen, Mödling or the Baden district? Then you are welcome to visit our accessible office at Wiener Straße 80 – where we will calmly go through your “Employee tax assessment” matter together.
For customers from Vienna and the rest of Austria, we also offer our support by phone or online. You can find out more about our in-person service on the page Formularservice Baden.
Frequently asked questions about Employee tax assessment
How far back can I claim a tax refund?
The employee tax assessment can be submitted within five years. In 2026, this means for the years 2021 to 2025.
Do I need FinanzOnline for this?
Not necessarily – the return can also be submitted on paper (form L1). Online, however, is usually quicker. We help you with both options.
Do you also provide tax advice?
No. We help you fill in and submit the forms based on the information you give us. For tax advice or tax planning questions, we recommend a tax adviser.
We provide practical support with filling in and submitting forms based on the information you give us. We do not provide legal or tax advice and cannot guarantee approval – the decision is made by the responsible authority.