Polski
Українська
Türkçe
العربية
English
Deutsch
Русский
Română
Italiano
Español
Hrvatski
Srpski
فارسی
Tiếng Việt
Ελληνικά📚 Glossary — 220 German official terms explained
220 German official terms — simply explained
16 terms found
ELSTER (ELSTER)
Electronic tax return — free online portal of the tax administration for filing tax returns.
You can conveniently file your tax return online via ELSTER.
Finance
Eheurkunde (marriage certificate)
Official certificate of marriage — issued by the registrar's office.
For family reunification, I needed the translated and notarized marriage certificate.
Authorities
Eigenbedarfskündigung (termination for personal use)
Termination of rental agreement by the landlord because he wants to use the apartment for himself or close relatives.
The landlord issued a termination for personal use because his son wants to move in.
Housing
Einbürgerung (Naturalization)
Acquisition of German citizenship by application — requires, among other things, at least 5 years of residence, language skills and naturalization test.
After 6 years in Germany, I applied for naturalization.
Authorities
Einbürgerungstest (Naturalization Test)
Test with 33 questions on German law, history and society — prerequisite for naturalization.
To pass the naturalization test, you must answer 17 of 33 questions correctly.
Authorities
Einkommensteuer (income tax)
Tax on all types of income (employment, rental, capital, business) — progressive tax rate of 14–45%.
The top tax rate on income tax is 42% on approximately €62,000 of annual income.
Finance
Einkommensteuererklärung (Income Tax Return)
Annual declaration of income to the tax office for the calculation of income tax.
The income tax return must be filed by July 31 of the following year.
Finance
Elterngeld (Parental Allowance)
State benefit for parents who care for their child after birth and work less — 65–67% of net income.
Parental allowance is paid for a maximum of 14 months if both parents take parental leave.
Finance
Elternzeit (Parental Leave)
Unpaid leave from work to care for a child — up to 3 years per child.
During parental leave, there is special protection against dismissal.
Work
Energieausweis (energy certificate)
Document that assesses the energy efficiency of a building — must be provided when renting or selling.
Before concluding the lease agreement, the landlord showed me the energy certificate.
Housing
Erbe (Inheritance)
Person who inherits the estate (and debts) of a deceased testator — regulated in the Civil Code.
As an heir, one must decide within 6 weeks whether to accept or reject the inheritance.
Law
Erbschaftsteuer (inheritance tax)
Tax on inherited assets — tax-free allowances depending on degree of kinship (spouse €500,000, children €400,000).
I had to pay inheritance tax on the inherited house because the tax-free allowance was exceeded.
Finance
Erstattung (reimbursement)
Refund of overpaid amounts — e.g. tax refund, utility cost refund.
The tax refund this year was 1,200 €.
Finance
Erwerbsminderungsrente (Disability Pension)
Pension for insured persons who, for health reasons, can work less than 6 or 3 hours per day.
The disability pension was approved following the medical assessment.
Finance
Erziehungsgeld (parental benefit)
Former government benefit for parents — replaced by parental allowance (Elterngeld) since 2007.
Child-rearing benefit no longer exists; today it is called parental allowance.
Finance
Existenzgründung (business start-up)
Establishment of self-employment — startup grant, business registration and business plan are required.
The Chamber of Commerce offers free consultation on business startup.
Finance