ELSTER
The official German online tax portal for filing returns and communicating with tax offices.
ELSTER at a glance
ELSTER is a government website and one of the most visited sites in Germany, currently ranked #187 in the country. It was founded in 1999 by German tax authorities and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Today ELSTER is owned by Bavarian State Office for Taxes / German tax administration. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 35 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through public funding. Its closest rivals include buhl.de, smartsteuer.de, lohnsteuer-kompakt.de.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 32.9 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 33.9 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 35 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 37.1 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct49%
- Organic search40%
- Referral7%
- Social3%
- Email1%
Audience & demographics
- Men51%
- Women49%
- Age 25-3427%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
The audience is concentrated in Germany, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Germany94%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets3%
- Europe1%
- North America1%
- Rest of world1%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 10.5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Germany
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| elster | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| official application | Top 10 | High | — |
| tax payment | Top 10 | High | — |
| id document | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Germany web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 69% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading government apps in Germany
Company information
- Website
- elster.de
- Sector
- Government
- Owner
- Bavarian State Office for Taxes / German tax administration
- Owner type
- Government agency
- Founders
- German tax authorities
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Munich, Germany
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- Bavarian State Office for Taxes / German tax administration controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- N/A (public service)
- Languages
- German
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, referral
Financials
- Revenue
- N/A (public service)
- Ownership
- Government agency
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
ELSTER operates an official government service portal focused on Germany. The official German online tax portal for filing returns and communicating with tax offices. Revenue comes mainly from public funding, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Public funding
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- Germany
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Germany)
- #187 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading government site in Germany
- Global rank
- 2500
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| buhl.de | ≈ 21 million / month | #188 class competitor | — |
| smartsteuer.de | ≈ 15.7 million / month | #189 class competitor | — |
| lohnsteuer-kompakt.de | ≈ 10.5 million / month | #190 class competitor | — |
What is ELSTER?
ELSTER (elster.de) is an official government service portal serving users in Germany. The official German online tax portal for filing returns and communicating with tax offices. It ranks #187 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the government category.
Who owns ELSTER?
The site is operated by Bavarian State Office for Taxes / German tax administration, founded by German tax authorities. The company was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place ELSTER at roughly 35 million visits per month, about 1.2 million per day. Around 69% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 4.6 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How ELSTER makes money
Revenue comes primarily from public funding, alongside .
Competitors in Germany
Its closest rivals include buhl.de, smartsteuer.de, lohnsteuer-kompakt.de.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1999
ELSTER is founded in Munich, Germany.
- Growth phase
Expands its government offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #187 among the most visited websites in Germany.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Official source for public services and documents
- Digital identity login replaces office visits
- No advertising or tracking clutter
- Accessible design requirements
Cons
- Navigation across departments is confusing
- Peak-time queues and downtime
- Some services still require paper steps
- Support channels are limited
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns ELSTER?
ELSTER is operated by Bavarian State Office for Taxes / German tax administration. Government agency structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is ELSTER headquartered?
ELSTER is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
When was ELSTER founded?
ELSTER was founded in 1999 by German tax authorities.
How many employees does ELSTER have?
ELSTER employs approximately 500+ people.
What is ELSTER's revenue?
ELSTER's revenue: N/A (public service).
Who are ELSTER's competitors?
Main competitors in Germany include buhl.de, smartsteuer.de, lohnsteuer-kompakt.de.
How does ELSTER make money?
Mainly public funding.
Is ELSTER publicly traded?
ELSTER's ownership: Government agency.
How many visitors does ELSTER get?
Third-party estimates place ELSTER at roughly 35 million visits per month, mostly from Germany, with 69% mobile traffic.
Is ELSTER safe?
ELSTER is an established government site founded in 1999 and ranked #187 in Germany; use the official domain elster.de and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementselster.de
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageGermany and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos