Short Answer
You can request a duplicate tax ID online, but it will only be delivered through physical mail to your registered address. The authorities refuse to provide this information over the telephone or via email under any circumstances.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You misplaced your original tax letter and spent two hours on hold trying to reach a government agent for a quick verbal confirmation. The agent finally answered but refused to read the digits out loud, forcing you to submit a digital form and wait nearly six weeks for a physical letter to arrive. You missed your company's payroll deadline during this waiting period, resulting in a 500 € tax penalty deduction on your current paycheck.
What To Do
- Download the request form directly from the BZSt portal by searching for "BZSt - Erneute Mitteilung der steuerlichen Identifikationsnummer."
- Fill out your personal details, including your current registered address, on the digital interface.
- "Ich habe meine Steueridentifikationsnummer verloren und benötige eine neue Mitteilung per Post." (I lost my tax identification number and need a new notification by mail.) — show this message to your HR department to explain the delay.
The Truth
Security via snail mail is a German obsession. They believe a physical mailbox is more secure than an encrypted email.