Professional Help in Germany — Lawyers, Tax Advisors & More

Germany's professional services sector is thorough and well-regulated. The barrier for expats is often language — but English-speaking professionals in most fields are available in major cities, and increasingly online. Knowing who to call and when can save you significant time, money, and stress.

Tax advisors (Steuerberater)

A tax advisor is one of the most valuable professionals you can hire in Germany, especially if you're self-employed, have income from multiple sources, or moved here mid-year.

When you need one:

• Self-employed or freelance (Freiberufler or Gewerbe)
• You have income from investments, abroad, or rental properties
• You want to maximize deductions on your employment tax return
• You're setting up a GmbH or UG
• You've received an unexpected letter from the Finanzamt

What they cost: Fees are regulated by the Steuerberatervergütungsverordnung (StBVV). A standard employed person's tax return typically costs €150–400. Self-employed returns with bookkeeping: €1,000–3,000+/year depending on complexity.

Finding an English-speaking Steuerberater: Ask in local expat communities (Facebook groups, Toytown Germany forum), or search on DATEV's advisor finder. In Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich there are many English-proficient advisors. Remote working with a Steuerberater is fully standard.

Filing yourself

For simple employed-only situations, you can file yourself using ELSTER (the official German tax portal) or Wundertax, which offers an English-language interface and costs around €35.

Immigration lawyers (Ausländerrecht)

When you might need one:

• Your visa application was rejected or is taking too long
• You're applying for permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) or German citizenship
• Your employment situation has changed and you're unsure about your visa status
• You're dealing with a complex family reunification case
• You received a letter from the Ausländerbehörde you don't understand

Immigration lawyers in Germany typically charge €200–400/hour. For a straightforward permanent residence application review: €500–1,500. German citizenship applications: €1,000–3,000.

For basic immigration questions, some information is available free through:

• The Make it in Germany government portal (make-it-in-germany.com)
• Your employer's HR department (for work visa questions)
• Expat-focused Facebook groups (for community experience, not legal advice)

Employment lawyers (Arbeitsrecht)

Germany has strong employee protections. Disputes with employers — especially around termination — are often resolved in employees' favor by labor courts (Arbeitsgericht). An employment lawyer can make a significant difference.

When you need one:

• You receive a termination notice (Kündigung) — you typically have 3 weeks to challenge it
• Your employer is withholding salary or making unauthorized deductions
• You're being bullied, discriminated against, or subjected to constructive dismissal
• Your contract has clauses you don't understand or want to negotiate

Rechtschutzversicherung (legal expenses insurance) covers legal costs in employment disputes. If you don't have it already, it's worth considering before you need it — it doesn't cover pre-existing disputes. Costs around €15–40/month and can cover family law and other areas too.

Relocation consultants

If your company is relocating you to Germany, a relocation service should be part of the package — ask HR. If not, relocation consultants can help with:

• Apartment search and viewing coordination
• School search for families
• Setting up utilities, bank accounts, and phone contracts
• Orientation tours in the new city
• Navigating the Ausländerbehörde and other offices

Typical cost: €1,500–5,000 for a full relocation package, depending on scope. For individuals, some relocation consultants offer partial services (apartment search only, for example) at lower cost.

Health insurance advisors

Germany's health insurance system is genuinely complex — the choice between GKV (public) and PKV (private) has long-term financial and personal implications. Getting this wrong costs thousands.

If you earn above €77,400/year (2026 threshold), you qualify for private insurance and should get specialist advice before enrolling in public insurance by default. A dedicated health insurance broker who specializes in expats can:

• Explain your exact options based on your employment status, income, age, and health
• Compare relevant PKV providers side by side
• Handle the application process with the insurer
• Advise in plain English without industry jargon

This service is free — brokers are compensated by the insurer, not by you.

How to find English-speaking professionals

Practical approaches that work:

• Expat community groups — Facebook groups like "Expats in Berlin / Munich / Frankfurt" have pinned recommendations and ongoing discussions. Peer recommendations are often the most reliable.
• Toytown Germany forum — long-running English-language forum with professional recommendations by city and specialty.
• Your employer's HR or EAP program — many multinational employers have Employee Assistance Programs covering legal or financial consultation.
• Chambers of commerce — the British, American, and other international chambers in Germany maintain directories of English-speaking professional services.
• Google with "English-speaking [professional type] [city]" — reliable and obvious, but worth noting that many professionals have English-language websites.