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Tax returns made easy: Kassel tax office launches new pilot project!
Hesse is starting a pilot project for automatic tax returns, which will relieve the burden on citizens, but also pose risks.
Tax returns made easy: Kassel tax office launches new pilot project!
In an exciting pilot project that is unique in Germany, the Kassel tax office in Hesse has launched a new procedure. How Panoramic view of Lower Saxony reported, taxpayers who do not submit their tax returns on time should receive an estimate from the tax office. These estimates then simply need to be confirmed as “correct”. The aim of the project is to simplify income tax returns and reduce the error rate.
But what does this mean for taxpayers? The idea behind this approach is that the tax office now creates a proposal that can be reviewed or changed within four weeks. The Hessian model could particularly benefit those citizens who hesitate to submit tax returns for fear of bureaucracy and thus potentially give money away. However, critics warn that this process could also reduce taxpayer responsibility and risk concealing income if only the pre-filled return is approved.
Focus on taxpayer responsibility
The discussion surrounding the pilot project discusses both the benefits of simplification and the risks of tax fraud. While some voices praise the intended help of the tax offices, it is emphasized that sovereignty over the tax return should remain with the taxpayer. This is the only way to prevent the temptation to be untruthful from becoming too strong. A good hand is needed here to counteract possible alienation from your own financial obligations.
In addition to regulatory changes, technological advancements also come into play. In this context, an article by KPMG notes that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in tax departments is becoming increasingly important. Workshops on AI use cases and low-threshold training offers can help to allay fear of the technology and make everyday work easier.
By analyzing current processes, areas with high potential for automation can be identified. In this way, particularly manual and frequently recurring activities can be optimized. In the future, the use of AI agents could lead to complex tasks being automatically broken down into sub-processes, which would further increase the demand for efficiency.
Conclusion: A step into the future
The Hessian pilot project could not only be a new approach to simplifying tax returns, but also a significant step towards technological progress, as envisaged in the work of tax departments such as KPMG. It remains to be seen whether citizens are prepared to follow this path and whether the necessary responsibility can be maintained. What is clear, however, is that a discourse is needed to find the balance between support and personal responsibility.