Tick-Tock, Taxes Done Faster! Speeding Up Tax Returns in Baden-Württemberg
Swiftly as a headless chicken: Accelerating tax declaration process. - Faster Progress on Tax Documents
41 days, yawn, that's the average wait time for taxpayers in Baden-Württemberg to receive their income tax assessments in 2024. That's about as long as it takes for a chicken to grow from a hatchling to full-blown broiler, and slower than walking the Camino de Santiago! But hey, it's not all bad news - it's a 13-day improvement compared to 2023, plus Baden-Württemberg beat 13 other German states in terms of speed.
Now, you might be thinking: are these financial experts downing espressos and cracking through cases over the weekend? The answer, my friend, is not quite that glamorous.
Robot, not human: More computer-processed cases
The tax authorities aren't quite working those long hours after all - it's all about automation! They're now quicker because they've reduced their manual workload, such as property tax assessments and energy price allowance processing. But the real game-changer is the growing number of tax returns that are no longer reviewed by humans, only by computers. These "automatic cases" are decided in as little as 10 to 14 working days.
These computer-processed cases are the future, and it's already taking shape in Baden-Württemberg. For every five tax returns, one is now handled by a robot instead of a human. Still, there's room for improvement: Baden-Württemberg lags behind other states, with just a 20.1% automatic case quota, far from the national average of 22%. "More automation, less human interference - that's the goal," says Eike Möller, the head of the taxpayers association.
In short, the tax authorities are getting faster, and if you file your tax return today, you might just get it back before your next meal of... chicken!
Background Info:
- Automated tax returns contribute to increased processing efficiency by reducing manual errors, improving accuracy, and speeding up data processing.
- Electronic submission systems, such as those used by the Federal Central Tax Office in Germany, can streamline the tax process and reduce processing times.
- The trend of digitalization in Germany, particularly in public services, suggests automated tax returns could lead to faster processing times nationwide.
- While specific data for Baden-Württemberg is not available, automated systems can be expected to have a positive impact on tax processing efficiency regionally.
[1] Source: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) website, electronicsubmission.de
- In Baden-Württemberg, the surge in automated tax returns has led to a more efficient tax process, reducing the waiting time for tax assessments and eliminating manual errors, thereby enabling a faster and more accurate delivery of tax returns.
- Embracing automation in tax processing could not only lead to a faster handling of tax matters in the state but also in the rest of Germany, as digitalization becomes increasingly prevalent in the country's public services. This shift could provide aid for businesses and individuals alike, improving personal-finance management and facilitating the overall process of vocational training, finance, and business operations in the community.
