smartsteuer — full review and pricing

Quick facts. smartsteuer is operated by smartsteuer GmbH, headquartered in Hannover, Germany, with the brand established in 2009. The operator is owned by Haufe Group since 2017. smartsteuer positions itself as a German online tax-return tool competing with WISO Steuer and Taxfix, billed via the tier structure detailed below.

smartsteuer markets a legal & tax subscription targeted at users who want a fully-managed product without piecing it together themselves. The pricing snapshot below pulls Subger's live tracker, so anchor prices stay current as smartsteuer adjusts published rates. The rest of this page details the operator, current tiers, feature coverage, support reach and 10 short FAQs.

Operator background

smartsteuer runs under smartsteuer GmbH, headquartered in Hannover, Germany. The product was established in 2009, and the company is currently owned by Haufe Group since 2017. smartsteuer sits in the legal & tax category and competes for the same recurring spend as nearby legal & tax brands on this site. See related coverage in /en/us/promo and /en/us/deal for cross-brand context.

Headquarters and corporate status

• Legal entity: smartsteuer GmbH
• HQ: Hannover, Germany
• Founded / launched: 2009
• Ownership: owned by Haufe Group since 2017

The operator's corporate status determines who you contract with at checkout — typically the legal entity above, even if billing goes through a regional reseller.

Why smartsteuer matters in legal & tax

smartsteuer positions itself as a German online tax-return tool competing with WISO Steuer and Taxfix. The 2024-2025 differentiator: 2024-2025 added an AI assistant to guide deductions and partner integrations with German banks for automatic transaction import (Energiepauschale, home office, work-from-anywhere).

Pricing and tier structure

Current tier structure: Pay-per-return €39.95 per tax return (or €34.95 for student returns). The anchor price referenced for headline comparison is €39.95 per tax return (one-time).

Plan grid

What changes between tiers

Higher tiers typically unlock larger allowances, additional household members or extra premium content; entry tiers exist for trial usage. Live prices in the Subger plan tracker override these anchors when smartsteuer adjusts published rates.

Recent pricing context (2024-2025)

2024-2025 added an AI assistant to guide deductions and partner integrations with German banks for automatic transaction import (Energiepauschale, home office, work-from-anywhere). Annual commitments commonly trim 10-20% off the headline monthly rate; check the live grid above before purchase.

Feature coverage

smartsteuer ships with the following named capabilities relevant to legal & tax:

• ELSTER direct e-filing
• Imports last year's data
• Partner-bank transaction import
• AI deduction assistant
• Live chat with Steuer-Experten on upgrade

Feature matrix

Platform and device reach

Coverage spans the operator's published device list — typically modern iOS and Android plus a web client; some categories add desktop apps, smart-TV apps or vehicle integrations where relevant. Check the vendor's "Supported devices" page if you depend on a less common platform.

Tax-filing workflow and accountant network

Workflow covers income, deductions, credits and final filing to the national tax authority; accountant or advisor network add-ons cover audit defence and ongoing advice.

What this means for buyers

The category-specific behaviour above is the single biggest factor when comparing smartsteuer against alternatives in the same legal & tax bracket. Buyers who care about the feature mix detailed here will typically rank smartsteuer higher than buyers focused on price alone.

Support, billing and account management

smartsteuer offers customer support through the operator's standard channels — typically an in-app help centre, email contact and (for paid tiers) live chat or phone support during business hours.

Cancellation and refunds

You can cancel smartsteuer directly from the account dashboard. Refund policy follows the operator's published terms; many legal & tax services prorate or do not refund partial periods after the renewal date. See the cancel guide hub for the standard cancellation workflow.

Free trials and money-back

Free trials, money-back windows and intro pricing vary by tier and country. Anchor: €39.95 per tax return (one-time).

Comparison context

In the legal & tax category, smartsteuer competes with nearby brands you can browse via /en/us/compare. Buyers commonly look at smartsteuer alongside two or three peers before committing — the side-by-side compare table on this site lets you stack feature coverage and price in one view.

When smartsteuer is the right pick

• You want a German online tax-return tool competing with WISO Steuer and Taxfix and the feature mix listed above
• The anchor price (€39.95 per tax return (one-time)) fits the budget
• The operator's footprint covers your country

When to look elsewhere

• You need a specific feature smartsteuer does not list
• You are in a country outside the operator's main footprint
• The 2024-2025 differentiator (2024-2025 added an AI assistant to guide deductions and partner integrations with German banks for automatic transaction import (Energiepauschale, home office, work-from-anywhere)) is not relevant to your use case

Frequently asked questions

What is smartsteuer?

smartsteuer is a legal & tax subscription operated by smartsteuer GmbH out of Hannover, Germany, established in 2009. It is currently owned by Haufe Group since 2017.

How much does smartsteuer cost?

Current tier structure: Pay-per-return €39.95 per tax return (or €34.95 for student returns). Anchor headline price: €39.95 per tax return (one-time). See the pricing table above for the live grid.

Who owns smartsteuer?

The brand is owned and operated by smartsteuer GmbH. Corporate status: owned by Haufe Group since 2017.

Where is smartsteuer available?

smartsteuer operates from Hannover, Germany with country availability tied to the operator's footprint and licensing reach. Cross-check the vendor's region list before subscribing if you travel often.

Can I cancel smartsteuer any time?

Yes — cancellation runs through the operator's account dashboard. See the cancel guide hub for the standard workflow and country-specific notes.

Does smartsteuer offer a free trial?

Free-trial availability varies by tier and country. The anchor price (€39.95 per tax return (one-time)) is the post-trial headline rate; trials, when offered, run 7 to 30 days depending on promo.

What payment methods does smartsteuer accept?

Payment methods follow the operator's checkout — typically major cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) plus locally-relevant alternatives like Apple Pay, Google Pay or country-specific wallets.

Is smartsteuer worth it in 2025?

smartsteuer's 2025 value depends on the feature mix you actually use. The 2024-2025 update — 2024-2025 added an AI assistant to guide deductions and partner integrations with German banks for automatic transaction import (Energiepauschale, home office, work-from-anywhere) — is the single most relevant signal for current-year buyers.

How is smartsteuer different from competitors?

smartsteuer differentiates as a German online tax-return tool competing with WISO Steuer and Taxfix. The operator background, founding year (2009) and 2024-2025 update give buyers a sense of where the brand sits versus alternatives.

Where can I track smartsteuer pricing changes?

Subger's live tracker updates the anchor price (€39.95 per tax return (one-time)) automatically when smartsteuer adjusts published rates. Bookmark the Subger smartsteuer page and check the pricing table above.

Sources and updates

Operator + tier + ownership facts compiled from public vendor disclosures, press releases and regulatory filings current to 2024-2025. Anchor price: €39.95 per tax return (one-time). Last refreshed at the timestamp in Subger's plan tracker.

Related on Subger

Browse adjacent coverage:

• Promo codes hub
• Deals hub
• Cancel guide hub
• Compare services
• True price tracker