Paying taxes: all at once, in instalments or in advance

Updated on 08.10.2026 · 3 minute read

In short: There are three common ways to pay taxes. You settle the invoice all at once, you pay it off in instalments once the tax office has approved it, or you pay in advance before the invoice arrives. Whichever way you choose, it pays to keep all your tax invoices in one place over the years. That way you always know what is open, what is paid and what comes next.

1. Paying all at once

The simplest way: the invoice arrives and you pay it in full by the due date. Even then it helps to record it. Every year brings provisional and final invoices, additional payments or refunds, and without an overview it is easy to lose track.

2. Paying in instalments

If you cannot pay a tax invoice all at once, you apply to the responsible tax office for an instalment plan.

• Number of instalments: often six, sometimes ten.
• Size of the instalments: not necessarily equal, the amounts can differ.
• Also afterwards: often the final invoice arrives first and the instalment plan is only approved later. Then the amount still open is split.
• Responsibility: the exact conditions are set by the tax office concerned.

3. Paying in advance

You can also pay taxes before the invoice arrives, for example regularly throughout the year. These advance payments are later credited against the tax invoice. If more was paid than owed, the result is a credit that is refunded. The conditions, such as whether interest is paid, are set by the responsible tax office.

Keeping track over the years

All at once, in instalments or in advance: you should be able to answer these questions at any time.

1. What is due next, and when?
2. How much is still open in total?
3. Have I missed anything that is already overdue?
4. How much do I actually have to pay this month?
5. What did I pay in previous tax years?

How SteuerImBlick helps

• All invoices in one place: provisional, final, supplementary or advance payment, for every person in the household.
• An instalment plan per invoice: you enter the approved instalments. The amount is split to the cent and you tick off each instalment individually. The plan can also be created afterwards for the amount still open.
• Advance payments: you record them as a separate invoice. A credit shows up as an expected refund.
• Over the years: the overview shows per tax year what is paid and what is open. Settled invoices stay in the archive and can be found at any time.
• Due this month and reminders: for each person, what has to be paid in the current month, with an optional reminder by email, push notification or in-app notice.

Frequently asked questions

This article gives a general overview and is not tax advice. What applies in your case is determined by the responsible tax office.