Overview
- Smartsteuer’s 2026 report, drawn from a high six‑figure number of 2025 e‑filings, finds pronounced regional differences in processing speed with Hesse showing both the fastest and slowest offices.
- Extremes cited include Schwalm‑Eder at about 22 days versus Korbach‑Frankenberg at about 119 days, with other slow offices such as Potsdam at 113 days and Baden‑Baden at 98 days.
- Lohnsteuer‑kompakt’s ranking reports the Kassel office averaging 51 days for 2024 returns, placing it mid‑field, with Hesse averaging 48 days overall and Berlin leading states at 46 days.
- OFD Frankfurt disputes the private rankings as based on incomplete data and says its comprehensive analyses show smaller inter‑office gaps, with official 2025 figures to follow.
- Hesse is scaling digital measures including Kassel’s ‘Maxi’ AI chatbot and a 6,000‑case draft‑assessment pilot to accelerate routine work, and earlier filing can shorten waits (March about 43 days versus August about 80 days).