If you’re part of a couple in Germany, one of the first tax questions you’ll face is whether to file jointly or separately. In most cases, joint filing is the better option – but there are important exceptions worth knowing about.
Tom Pugh - tom.pugh@thelocal.com
Updated: Wed 10 Jun 2026 16:22 CET
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Occasionally, it may make financial sense for couples to file separate tax returns in Germany. Photo: Mikhail Nilov on Pexels
If you’re part of a couple in Germany, one of the first tax questions you’ll face is whether to file jointly or separately. In most cases, joint filing is the better option – but there are important exceptions worth knowing about.
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