What Lohnsteuer kompakt does

Lohnsteuer kompakt is a Berlin-based, web-only DIY tax-return filing service for German individual taxpayers, operated by forium GmbH and led by managing directors Felix Bodeewes and Leander Bretschger. Founded roughly a quarter-century ago, it has accumulated 3.6M+ users, sustains 41,000+ Trusted Shops reviews, and reports a 25-minute average completion time and €1,240 average tax refund per filer. The product is sold as single-return (€34.95) or bundled up to four returns (€114.95), positioning it as a low-cost alternative to both chartered Steuerberater and higher-priced commercial tax software.

The technical core is a guided web interview that maps user answers to German tax forms, layered on three structural integrations: (1) direct submission via the official ELSTER platform of the German tax authorities; (2) ingestion of the VaSt pre-filled return (vorausgefüllte Steuererklärung) so prior-year data carries forward; and (3) IntelliScan, an AI document-recognition feature launched in 2025 that uses OpenAI's API to extract data from uploaded statements and certificates. Supporting infrastructure runs on Herbst Datentechnik hosting, Cloudflare edge, Atlassian tooling, and standard marketing/communications stack (Inxmail, Sipgate, OpenStreetMap, belboon).

The business model is pure self-service, pay-per-return, with no subscription lock-in and no per-filer human advisor involvement. Distribution is overwhelmingly organic and affiliate-driven through content/SEO and partnerships with Trusted Shops, Finanztip, and BILD. The team is unusually lean (1-10 employees), the company is profitable and bootstrapped with no disclosed funding, and recent product scope has been incrementally broadened with cryptocurrency tax support (2022), Anlage AUS foreign-income coverage (2023), and accessibility compliance under BFSG/WCAG (2025).

Name

Lohnsteuer kompakt

Legal name

forium GmbH

Website

https://www.lohnsteuer-kompakt.de/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lohnsteuer kompakt is a Berlin-based, web-only DIY German tax-return filing service for individual taxpayers, priced at €34.95 per return (bundles up to four), serving 3.6M+ cumulative users with ELSTER-integrated, AI-assisted document scanning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Per-tax-return payment: One-time fee of €34.95 per tax return submission. No subscription or recurring fees. Users can test for free and only pay when they submit. Package deals available for multiple returns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lohnsteuer kompakt is a web-based platform that enables German individual taxpayers to prepare and electronically submit their annual income tax returns (Einkommensteuererklärung) via an interview-style wizard. The platform uses AI-powered document recognition (IntelliScan) to extract data from uploaded receipts and integrates directly with the official German ELSTER system for compliant digital transmission to the Finanzamt, compliant with §87c Abgabenordnung. Users can register and prepare returns for free, paying a one-time fee of €34.95 only upon submission, with package options for multiple returns.

Product overview

Lohnsteuer kompakt is an online German income tax preparation and filing platform operated by forium GmbH, available via web browser and native mobile apps (iOS/Android). The core product is the web application for completing income tax returns through an interview-based wizard with automatic calculation and ELSTER submission. Premium pricing packages range from €34.95 (single return) to €114.95 (four returns). Key AI-powered features include IntelliScan for document scanning, an AI chatbot for customer service, and AI-powered tax assessment summaries. Additional offerings include a suite of free tax calculators, pre-filled tax return import (VaSt) via ELSTER, and free PDF tax form downloads. The platform emphasizes German data hosting, 256-bit encryption, and Trusted Shops certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IntelliScan: AI-powered document recognition system that automatically scans and processes uploaded tax documents, identifying relevant information and inserting it into the correct sections of the tax return.

Products and services

• Lohnsteuer kompakt Web Application Online income tax filing platform enabling German individual taxpayers to complete their annual Einkommensteuererklärung through an interview-based wizard. Features automatic tax calculation, personalized tax optimization tips, plausibility checks, ELSTER-based electronic submission, and VaSt (pre-filled tax return) data import. Accessible via any modern web browser on Windows, Mac, and Linux without installation.
• Lohnsteuer kompakt Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Average tax refund of €1,240
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OpenAI Ireland LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationOpenAI provides AI capabilities for IntelliScan document recognition, chatbot customer support, and tax assessment summarization features. Data processing occurs under EU Standard Contractual Clauses with additional technical safeguards.
• Herbst Datentechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationExternal hosting provider for web servers with servers located in Berlin, Germany. Data processed only as necessary for service delivery under commissioned processing agreement per Art. 28 DSGVO.
• ELSTER (Finanzverwaltung)coreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial German tax authority electronic transmission system (Elektronische Steuererklärung). Lohnsteuer kompakt is certified to transmit tax returns directly to German tax offices via ELSTER protocol, compliant with §87c Abgabenordnung.
• belboon (Affiliate Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate marketing partner for referral traffic. Lohnsteuer kompakt participates in the belboon partner program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WISO Steuer: Flagship consumer tax-software product from Buhl Data, one of the most established German tax-preparation brands. Directly competes for the same German individual taxpayer with a similar web/desktop platform and ELSTER-submission model.
• Taxman: Long-standing German tax-software product from Lexware (Haufe Group). Competes directly with Lohnsteuer kompakt on German income-tax filing for individuals, with comparable interview-based workflows and ELSTER submission.
• SteuerSparErklärung: German tax-preparation software from Akademische Arbeitsgemeinschaft / Wolters Kluwer, frequently named alongside Lohnsteuer kompakt in independent comparisons and Finanztip recommendations. Direct competitor in the same consumer segment.
• Smartsteuer: Web-based German tax filing product from Wolters Kluwer targeting the same individual taxpayer market with similar freemium / paid submission pricing. Direct competitor with comparable interview-style UX.
• QuickSteuer: Consumer tax-software from Wolters Kluwer aimed at straightforward German tax returns. Competes in the same SMB / individual segment with similar pricing and ELSTER-based submission.
• Mein Elster: Official free electronic tax-filing portal of the German tax authorities (Finanzverwaltung). Directly competes as the zero-cost baseline against which Lohnsteuer kompakt positions its paid, more user-friendly experience.
• Akquinet e-Steuer: Smaller German tax-preparation software product. A direct niche competitor for individual German tax returns, often showing up in product comparisons alongside Lohnsteuer kompakt.

Emerging players

• Taxfix: Mobile-first German tax-filing app with a strong consumer brand and VC backing. Competes for the same German individual taxpayer but with a streamlined, app-native experience that pressures legacy web/desktop workflows.

Broad incumbents

• DATEV: Dominant German tax/accounting software platform for tax advisors and SMEs. While B2B-focused, it sets the broader standard for German tax-software integration and is a potential acquirer or channel partner for Lohnsteuer kompakt's consumer base.
• Haufe Steuer Office: Tax and accounting software suite from Haufe Group, a large established German publishing/technology company. Competes with broader tax/accounting functionality and brand trust in the same German market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LKompakt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCF2MOHJKFRhPp2Q_lKjFaHw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LohnsteuerKompakt
• Instagraminstagram.com/lohnsteuer_kompakt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lohnsteuer-kompakt

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lohnsteuer kompakt