Lohnsteuerhilfeverein

What Lohnsteuerhilfeverein does

Altbayerischer Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V. is a non-profit tax assistance association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1993 and headquartered in Massing, Bavaria, Germany. Registered with Amtsgericht Landshut under VR 10512, the association operates under the exclusive advisory authority of § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG to provide income tax return preparation, assessment review, objection filing, tax class selection advice, and year-round tax advisory to employees, students, retirees, and pensioners with non-self-employment income. It serves more than 100,000 members through a network of over 350 Beratungsstellenleiter:innen consulting locations across Germany, complemented by an online consultation channel via the ALH Postbox App.

The core offering is a bundled subscription service — one annual membership fee (socially tiered from EUR 52 to EUR 375 depending on income, plus a one-time EUR 15 enrollment fee) covers all tax advisory services with no per-transaction charges. Distribution combines the physical branch network (the primary acquisition and delivery channel) with digital self-service tools: a PLZ-based branch finder, a suite of free online calculators (Brutto-Netto, Steuerklassen, Renten, Firmenwagen, Beitragsrechner, and others), downloadable calculation forms, and a multilingual web presence covering 35+ languages to address Germany's immigrant population. The technology stack is non-proprietary: Matomo for self-hosted analytics, Google and Microsoft for paid search and maps, Yext for AI-powered search, and the embedded WISO Steuer web service from Buhl Data Service for tax submission. There is no public API, SDK, or proprietary platform; competitive differentiation rests on the regulatory franchise, distribution density, and brand trust built over 30+ years.

The association is governed by a three-member executive board (Christian Staller, Ulrich Danner, Sandra Staller), has no parent company or subsidiaries, and is an active member of the Bundesverband Lohnsteuerhilfevereine e.V. (BVL), the national industry body representing 300+ member associations. Recognition includes the Großer Preis des Mittelstandes, Kununu Top Company 2026, and CrefoZert 2025. Effective 01.09.2026, an amendment to § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG removes the prior EUR 18,000/EUR 36,000 income thresholds, materially expanding the eligible member base to include individuals with supplementary non-employment income.

Name

Lohnsteuerhilfeverein

Legal name

Altbayerischer Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V.

Website

https://stoermer.altbayerischer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Altbayerischer Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V. is a German non-profit tax assistance association that prepares income tax returns and provides year-round tax advisory for employees, students, and retirees, serving 100,000+ members through 350+ branch offices and an online consultation app under a bundled annual membership fee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Advisory Services

NAICS

Tax Preparation Services (541213), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Payroll & Employment Tax Services (BPAHABAD)

Keywords

• Income tax advisory
• Tax return preparation
• Tax assistance association
• Membership tax services
• Lohnsteuerhilfe

Headquarters

HQ city

Massing

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees constitute the sole revenue stream. Fees are income-tiered (socially staffelung), ranging from EUR 52 to EUR 375 per year, plus a one-time enrollment fee of EUR 15. All services — tax return preparation, annual advisory, tax assessment review, objection filing, tax bracket consultation — are included in the annual fee with no additional charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Altbayerischer Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V. is a non-profit membership-based tax assistance association that prepares annual income tax returns and provides year-round tax advisory for German employees, students, retirees, and pensioners with exclusively non-self-employment income, operating under § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG. The service bundle covers tax return preparation, advance tax-outcome calculation, tax assessment review, objection filing, and tax-class selection advice, delivered through a network of over 350 in-person consulting locations and the ALH Postbox App for digital document exchange.

Product overview

Altbayerischer Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V. is a non-profit tax assistance association organized under § 4 No. 11 StBerG, offering a membership-based service for income tax return preparation and advisory. The core offering centers on a comprehensive tax advisory service that includes income tax return preparation, tax assessment review, objection filing, tax class selection advice, and year-round tax consultation. The service is delivered through a network of over 350 consultation offices across Germany for members, supplemented by online consultation and the ALH Postbox App for digital document exchange. Members pay annual fees ranging from €52 to €375 based on income level. The offering also includes a suite of supplementary digital tools including online calculators (Brutto-Netto, tax class, pension, company car), downloadable calculation forms for specific tax situations, and a comprehensive tax checklist. The company serves employees, retirees, students, and pensioners with exclusively non-employment income.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership-Based Tax Advisory Service (Lohnsteuerhilfe-Mitgliedschaft) Annual membership that bundles income tax return preparation, advance tax-outcome calculation, tax assessment review, objection filing, year-round tax consultation, and tax-class selection advice for German employees, students, retirees, and pensioners with non-self-employment income under § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG. Members pay socially-tiered annual fees ranging from EUR 52 to EUR 375 plus a one-time EUR 15 enrollment fee.
• Income Tax Return Preparation (Einkommensteuererklärung) Preparation of annual income tax declarations for employees, retirees, students, and pensioners with non-employment income, included in the annual membership.
• Online Consultation (Online-Beratung) Remote tax consultation services delivered via digital channels, enabling members to receive tax advice without visiting a physical office. Delivered as part of the membership bundle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average tax refund of EUR 1,240 for eligible filers with non-employment income
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bundesverband Lohnsteuerhilfevereine e.V. (BVL)coreOthersThe organization is an active member of the Bundesverband Lohnsteuerhilfevereine e.V. (BVL), the national industry association representing over 300 member Lohnsteuerhilfevereine organizations in Germany. BVL serves as the primary industry body, providing advocacy, standards, and professional development for its member associations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Smartsteuer GmbH: Online DIY tax preparation platform owned by Allianz, serving German employees with self-service filing at lower price points. Competes for the same core demographic (employed individuals filing straightforward returns) via a fundamentally different, capital-light digital model.
• Taxfix GmbH: Berlin-based mobile tax filing app targeting employed individuals in Germany with a chat-guided UX and per-return pricing. Represents the most venture-capitalized digital alternative to Lohnsteuerhilfevereine, with strong brand among younger filers.

Others

• Bund der Steuerzahler Deutschland e.V. German taxpayers' association representing members' interests on tax policy. Not a tax preparer but a closely related organization in the German tax ecosystem, often cross-referenced by individual taxpayers considering advisory options.
• DATEV eG: German cooperative providing IT infrastructure, software, and consulting services to licensed tax advisors (Steuerberater) and accountants. An ecosystem enabler for the broader German tax advice market rather than a direct competitor to Lohnsteuerhilfevereine.

Broad incumbents

• Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co. KG: Major German software provider whose Lexware and Haufe tax products serve SMBs, freelancers, and individuals. Broader portfolio than Altbayerischer, with overlapping offerings in personal income tax preparation and accounting.
• Buhl Data Service GmbH (WISO Steuer): Germany's leading consumer tax software publisher, offering WISO Steuer for self-service tax filing. Notably, Altbayerischer already embeds the WISO Steuer web service for member filings — making Buhl both an infrastructure partner and a competing DIY channel for simpler returns.

Direct peers

• Aktuell Lohnsteuerhilfeverein e.V. German tax assistance association operating under the same § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG framework with comparable membership model and Beratungsstellen structure. Already a content-sharing partner of Altbayerischer, indicating close competitive and ecosystem parity.
• Vereinigte Lohnsteuerhilfe e.V. (VLH): Largest Lohnsteuerhilfeverein in Germany with a virtually identical membership-based tax advisory model under § 4 Nr. 11 StBerG, serving employees, retirees, and students through a national branch network. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping regulatory framework, pricing structure, and member demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lohnsteuerhilfeverein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Lohnsteuerhilfeverein