Tax work in Germany is language work. Tax returns, objections, correspondence with the tax office and the statutes themselves are German, and the precise wording of a single term can change the tax treatment of a transaction.
This page shows the German level current job ads for tax consultants ask for, phrases from client and tax office communication, core tax vocabulary, learning time per CEFR level according to the Goethe-Institut, and recognised certificates.
Which German level do tax consultants need in Germany?
The analysis covers 58 current job ads with a description from the job exchange of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), search terms „Steuerberater“, retrieved on 24 September 2026; identical ad texts were counted once. 2 of them state a requirement for German skills. The most frequent wording is „sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse“ (very good German) (2 ads). None of the ads names a CEFR level for German. All analysed ads are written in German. 27 of the 58 ads mention the tax advisor examination or the appointment as tax advisor.
The legal background: § 87 of the German Fiscal Code (Abgabenordnung) states that the official language is German. If applications or documents are submitted in another language, the tax office can request a translation.
How to read the wording: the German Residence Act uses similar terms and defines them in § 2 as CEFR levels, for example good German skills („gute deutsche Sprachkenntnisse“) as B2 and mastering German („beherrscht die deutsche Sprache“) as C1. These definitions do not bind job ads, but they help translate an ad into a learning goal.
What the levels mean, summarised from the Council of Europe global scale:
- B1: understands the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters from work, school or leisure, and can produce simple connected text.
- B2: understands the main ideas of complex text, including technical discussions in the own field, and can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party.
- C1: understands demanding, longer texts and implicit meaning, and uses the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
German phrases from the working week of tax consultants
Six sentences that come up in this role, with an English translation. They are written without first-person forms so they can be reused as neutral templates.
- Gegen den Bescheid sollte fristgerecht Einspruch eingelegt werden.
An objection against the assessment notice should be filed within the deadline. - Für die Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung fehlen noch die Eingangsrechnungen.
The incoming invoices are still missing for the advance VAT return. - Das Finanzamt hat eine Außenprüfung angekündigt.
The tax office has announced a tax audit. - Handelt es sich um eine verdeckte Gewinnausschüttung?
Is this a constructive dividend? - Könnten Sie die Belege bis zum 10. des Monats einreichen?
Could you submit the receipts by the 10th of the month? - Die Frist zur Abgabe der Steuererklärung lässt sich verlängern.
The deadline for filing the tax return can be extended.
Core vocabulary for tax consultants
Taxes and returns
| Deutsch | English |
|---|---|
| die Steuererklärung | tax return |
| der Steuerbescheid | tax assessment notice |
| die Umsatzsteuer | VAT |
| die Körperschaftsteuer | corporate income tax |
| die Gewerbesteuer | trade tax |
| die Vorauszahlung | advance payment |
| die Betriebsausgabe | business expense |
| der Vorsteuerabzug | input tax deduction |
Procedure
| Deutsch | English |
|---|---|
| das Finanzamt | tax office |
| der Einspruch | objection |
| die Frist | deadline |
| die Außenprüfung (Betriebsprüfung) | tax audit |
| der Beleg | receipt / voucher |
| die Mitwirkungspflicht | duty to cooperate |
| die verdeckte Gewinnausschüttung | constructive dividend |
| die Selbstanzeige | voluntary disclosure |
How long does it take? Learning time per CEFR level
The Council of Europe global scale describes levels by what learners can do; it contains no hour figures. Guide values for learning time are published by the Goethe-Institut, explicitly as values based on experience: according to the Goethe-Institut, individual factors such as language learning experience and first language play an important role. Two published course models side by side, in teaching units of 45 minutes:
| Level | Goethe-Institut São Paulo, per level | Goethe-Institut Germany, evening courses per level | São Paulo, cumulative from zero | Germany, cumulative from zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 128 | 72 | 128 | 72 |
| A2 | 128 | 144 | 256 | 216 |
| B1 | 192 | 144 | 448 | 360 |
| B2 | 256 | 216 | 704 | 576 |
| C1 | 192 | 144 | 896 | 720 |
| C2 | 256 | 144 | 1,152 | 864 |
The cumulative columns add up the published values per level. The model of the Goethe-Institut in Germany uses evening courses of 72 teaching units: one for A1, three for B2 and two for each of the other levels. Moving from B1 to C1 takes 360 to 448 teaching units according to these models.
A learning path for tax consultants
- Start with the terms of the main tax types and returns, since they appear in every file.
- Add procedural German: deadlines, objections and correspondence with the tax office.
- Practise explaining a tax issue to clients in plain German, without legal jargon.
- Finish with reading statutes, decrees and court decisions in the original.
Which certificates are recognised?
- telc Deutsch C1 Beruf: certifies German at an advanced level together with job-related communication skills; available as digital, hybrid and paper-based exam.
- Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2 and Goethe-Test PRO: the Goethe-Institut offers German exams on all six CEFR levels and describes them as internationally recognised; the Goethe-Test PRO covers A1 to C2 for professional contexts.
- telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf and telc Deutsch B2·C1 Beruf: dual-level exams for work; candidates receive a certificate for either the lower or the higher level, and topics and vocabulary come from everyday working situations.
Planning German for tax consultants in your team?
A discovery call with Rahel Modrach clarifies the target level per role, the starting point and a realistic plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can tax offices in Germany be addressed in English?
§ 87 of the German Fiscal Code states that the official language is German. If documents are submitted in another language, the tax office can request a translation.
How long does it take to reach B2 or C1?
The Goethe-Institut publishes guide values based on experience: from zero to B2 its published course models add up to 576 (Goethe-Institut Germany, evening courses) to 704 teaching units (Goethe-Institut São Paulo) of 45 minutes, and to 720 to 896 units for C1. Prior knowledge, first language and learning experience change the duration considerably.
Which certificates fit this role?
Relevant for this role: telc Deutsch C1 Beruf; Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2 and Goethe-Test PRO; telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf and telc Deutsch B2·C1 Beruf. Which proof is required in a given case is set by the employer or the responsible authority.
Related pages
- Business German for Auditors
- Business German for Lawyers and In-House Counsel
- Business German for M&A Analysts
- CEFR levels by business role
- The ROI of business German
- 90-day plan for foreign hires
Sources
Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Jobbörse: Auswertung von 58 Stellenanzeigen, Suchbegriffe „Steuerberater“, abgerufen am 24.09.2026
Europarat (Council of Europe): Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen, Globalskala der Referenzniveaus (Table 1, CEFR 3.3)
Goethe-Institut Deutschland: Deutsch Sprachniveaus, Kursstufenmodell Abendkurse (Stand Mai 2026)
Goethe-Institut São Paulo: Häufig gestellte Fragen zu Unterrichtseinheiten je Niveau (Stand März 2026)
§ 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (Gesetze im Internet, Bundesamt für Justiz)
§ 87 Abgabenordnung (Gesetze im Internet, Bundesamt für Justiz)
telc gGmbH: Prüfungsseite telc Deutsch C1 Beruf
Goethe-Institut: Deutschprüfungen und Prüfungstrainings (Übersichtsseite)
telc gGmbH: Prüfungsseiten telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf und B2·C1 Beruf