Self-Employed Loan Without Tax Return
Germany has roughly 3.7 million self-employed workers, according to Destatis. Many of them face a common problem when applying for a loan: banks want tax returns that either do not exist yet or are outdated. This guide covers your real alternatives, from BWA-based applications to KfW-subsidized funding, with verified rates and provider data as of March 2026.
1. Without Tax Return: What Are Your Real Options?
Most bank websites and comparison portals are vague about this topic. The honest answer is that traditional banks almost always require Steuerbescheide (income tax assessments) for the past 2 to 3 years. Under Paragraph 505a BGB, lenders must assess whether repayment is probable before issuing a consumer loan. For self-employed income, which fluctuates, that assessment demands more documentation than a simple payslip.
But "more documentation" does not always mean a Steuerbescheid. There are three real scenarios where you can get a loan without one:
Newly Self-Employed
You have not yet filed a tax return. KfW StartGeld and fintech lenders serve this group using business plans and bank statements.
Waiting for Tax Assessment
Your latest Steuerbescheid is delayed. A current BWA plus 6 months of bank statements can bridge the gap with some lenders.
P2P and Fintech Routes
Platforms like auxmoney use proprietary scoring from over 3,000 data points. Digital account analysis (PSD2) can replace paper documents entirely.
Freiberufler vs. Gewerbetreibende: This distinction matters for loan eligibility. Freiberufler (doctors, lawyers, architects, IT consultants, journalists) are defined under Paragraph 18 EStG and do not register a Gewerbe. Some lenders, such as ING, offer their Freiberufler loan exclusively to this group and exclude Gewerbetreibende entirely. If you run a registered trade, check whether the lender distinguishes between these categories before applying. For a broader comparison of loan products, see our loan comparison guide.
2. Alternative Income Documentation
When tax returns are unavailable, lenders look at several alternative documents to gauge your repayment capacity. The two most important are the BWA and the EUeR. Understanding what they contain helps you prepare a stronger application. If you are comparing different personal loan options for 2026, knowing which documents each lender accepts saves time and reduces unnecessary credit inquiries.
What Is a BWA (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung)?
A BWA is a management accounting report that your Steuerberater generates from your bookkeeping data, typically via DATEV. It covers monthly or quarterly periods and shows revenues, costs by category, gross margin, and operating profit (EBIT). Banks request it because Steuerbescheide are often 12 to 18 months old when issued, while a BWA reflects your current financial position.
Under Paragraph 18 KWG, banks must obtain financial disclosures for business credit above certain thresholds. The BWA is a standard component of this obligation. For detailed guidance on reading and optimizing your BWA, Creditreform publishes a practical guide.
What Is an EUeR (Einnahmenueberschussrechnung)?
The EUeR is a simplified profit calculation where business income is offset against business expenses. All Freiberufler may use it regardless of revenue level. Gewerbetreibende can use it if they stay below EUR 800,000 in revenue or EUR 80,000 in profit per year. Banks generally accept the EUeR for smaller personal loans but prefer a full Bilanz (balance sheet) for larger amounts.
Complete Documentation Checklist
3. Provider Comparison: Who Lends to Self-Employed?
The table below compares lender requirements based on publicly available data as of March 2026. Interest rates for self-employed borrowers average around 7.0% effective (vs. 6.75% for employees), according to CHECK24 aggregated data. Individual rates vary depending on your SCHUFA score, business duration, and loan amount. For borrowers who have already consolidated existing debts, rates may differ; our debt consolidation guide covers that scenario.
| Lender | Min. Business History | Tax Return Required? | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Banks | 3 years | Yes (2-3 years) | Industry standard requirement |
| TARGOBANK | 3 years | Yes (last assessment) | Min. EUR 14,000/yr income; private use only |
| ING (Freiberufler only) | ~2-3 years | Yes, or digital check | Excludes Gewerbetreibende; digital income check alternative |
| smava (intermediary) | 1 year (personal) | Varies by partner bank | Single application reaches 20+ partner banks |
| auxmoney (P2P) | No stated minimum | Not mandatory | Proprietary scoring from 3,000+ data points; EUR 1,000-50,000 |
| iwoca (fintech) | 2 months | Not mandatory | Business loans EUR 1,000-500,000; min. EUR 22,000/yr revenue |
| KfW StartGeld | Up to 5 years old | No (business plan) | From 3.49% p.a.; up to EUR 200,000; 80% risk coverage by KfW |
Sources: ING product page (ing.de), TARGOBANK product page (targobank.de), KfW program details (kfw.de), CHECK24 market data. Rates and terms as of March 2026; subject to change. Individual offers may differ.
4. KfW StartGeld: The Best Option for New Founders
If you have been self-employed for less than 5 years and traditional banks refuse you, the KfW ERP-Gruenderkredit StartGeld (program 067) is worth serious consideration. It is specifically designed for founders and young businesses. Since December 2025, the maximum loan amount has been raised from EUR 125,000 to EUR 200,000, and the operating costs portion increased from EUR 50,000 to EUR 80,000.
KfW StartGeld (067) at a Glance
The 80% risk guarantee is the critical advantage here. It means your Hausbank only bears 20% of the default risk, which makes them far more willing to approve a loan for a recently self-employed borrower. You still need a solid business plan, an investment plan, and a profitability forecast, but you do not need Steuerbescheide. For more details, see the official KfW program page.
5. Practical Tips for a Successful Application
Prepare your BWA thoroughly
A clean, current BWA from your Steuerberater is the single most important document when tax returns are unavailable. Make sure it covers at least the last 12 months.
Check your SCHUFA first
SCHUFA treats self-employed the same as employees in scoring. Correct any errors before applying. A strong SCHUFA score compensates for shorter business history.
Consider a co-borrower
A partner with regular employment income as a second borrower significantly improves approval chances and usually lowers the interest rate.
Offer collateral if possible
Vehicles, real estate, or a Kapitallebensversicherung as security reduces the bank's risk. This can make the difference for borderline applications.
Submit to multiple lenders
Rate inquiries (Konditionsanfragen) are SCHUFA-neutral. Compare at least 3 to 5 offers before committing. Use our comparison tool below.
Apply during your strong quarter
If your revenue fluctuates seasonally, submit applications during your highest-earning period. Present annual totals instead of monthly figures to smooth out variation.
For part-time self-employed individuals, the situation is often simpler. Your employment income serves as a stable base, and self-employment revenue is treated as supplementary. Many banks will accept standard salary statements in this case, with self-employment income as a bonus factor. If you are a foreign national seeking a personal loan while self-employed in Germany, additional requirements around residency status may apply.
6. Can You Deduct Loan Interest From Taxes?
This is a question that none of the major comparison portals cover in their self-employed loan guides, but it matters significantly for your net cost of borrowing. The rule is straightforward: what determines deductibility is the purpose of the loan, not how it is classified.
| Loan Type | Interest Deductible? | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Business loan (equipment, working capital) | Yes, fully | Betriebsausgaben |
| Private consumer loan (ING, TARGOBANK products) | No | Private expense |
| KfW StartGeld for business investment | Yes, fully | Betriebsausgaben |
| Principal repayments (any loan type) | Never | Balance sheet transaction |
If you use a consumer loan entirely for business purposes, there is a theoretical argument for deductibility. In practice, however, this creates record-keeping complexity and audit risk. Consult your Steuerberater before claiming deductions on loans not explicitly classified as business financing. For a broader understanding of how loan types compare, including credit terms and conditions, see our comparison guide.
7. How to Spot Fraudulent Loan Offers
Self-employed borrowers who have been rejected by mainstream banks are a prime target for credit fraud. The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) and BaFin have both issued warnings about advance-fee fraud schemes.
Red Flags (vzbv-confirmed fraud patterns)
According to vzbv: there are zero known cases where a loan was actually disbursed after an advance payment was made.
Legitimate lenders never charge fees before disbursement. If your credit situation is difficult, consider the options in section 3 above rather than turning to unverified intermediaries. Borrowers looking into loans without SCHUFA should be especially cautious, as this search intent attracts the highest concentration of fraudulent offers.
8. Compare Loan Offers Now
Use our free loan comparison to find lenders who work with self-employed borrowers. The comparison is non-binding, and the initial rate inquiry is SCHUFA-neutral (Konditionsanfrage, not Kreditanfrage). You will not affect your credit score by comparing offers.
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9. Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but your options narrow compared to employed applicants. P2P platforms like auxmoney use proprietary scoring models that go beyond tax returns. Fintech lenders such as iwoca accept borrowers with as little as 2 months of business history. For larger amounts, KfW StartGeld (up to EUR 200,000) relies on a business plan rather than tax assessments. Traditional banks, however, almost always require at least 2 Steuerbescheide.
The most accepted alternatives are: a BWA (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung) covering the last 12 to 24 months, an EUeR (Einnahmenueberschussrechnung), business bank statements for the past 6 to 12 months, active contracts or order confirmations, and digital account analysis via PSD2-based open banking. Which combination a lender accepts depends on the loan amount and your business profile.
Requirements vary significantly. Traditional banks typically require 3 years. TARGOBANK asks for 3 years with a minimum income of EUR 14,000 per year. The ING Freiberufler loan requires 2 Steuerbescheide (implying roughly 2 to 3 years). Smava accepts self-employed borrowers after just 1 year for personal loans. Auxmoney has no stated minimum. Iwoca requires only 2 months of business activity.
On average, yes. According to CHECK24 data from 2025, self-employed borrowers pay around 7.0% effective annual interest, compared to 6.75% for employees. That is a premium of about 0.25 percentage points. The gap widens for borrowers with shorter business histories or lower SCHUFA scores. KfW-subsidized loans start from 3.49% p.a., which can partially offset this disadvantage.
A BWA (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung) is a management accounting report generated from your ongoing bookkeeping, typically monthly or quarterly. It shows revenues, costs by category, gross margin, and operating profit. Banks use it to assess your current financial health because tax returns are often 12 to 18 months old by the time they are issued. Your Steuerberater produces the BWA from DATEV or similar accounting software.
Freiberufler (liberal professions such as doctors, lawyers, architects, IT consultants, and journalists) are defined under Paragraph 18 EStG and do not register a Gewerbe. Some lenders, such as ING, offer loans exclusively to Freiberufler and exclude Gewerbetreibende entirely. TARGOBANK serves both groups. This distinction can determine which loan products are available to you.
It depends on how you use the loan. Interest on loans for business purposes (equipment, working capital, office space) is fully deductible as Betriebsausgaben. Interest on private consumer loans, such as the ING Freiberufler loan or TARGOBANK Selbststaendigenkredit, is not deductible because these products are classified for private use. Principal repayments are never deductible regardless of loan type.
The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv) warns about advance-fee fraud targeting self-employed borrowers rejected by mainstream banks. Red flags include: promises of guaranteed approval regardless of creditworthiness, any upfront payment before the loan is disbursed, no Impressum on the website, payment to foreign bank accounts, and pressure to act immediately. According to vzbv, there are zero known cases where a loan was actually disbursed after an advance payment.
Conclusion: Options Exist, but Preparation Matters
Getting a loan as a self-employed person without a current tax return is possible, but your success depends heavily on preparation. Traditional banks remain strict; their requirements are driven by legal obligations under BGB and KWG, not arbitrary policy. The real flexibility lies with P2P platforms, fintech lenders, and KfW-subsidized programs. Whichever path you choose, a thorough BWA, clean SCHUFA, and realistic loan amount will dramatically improve your chances.
Document
BWA, bank statements, contracts as alternatives to Steuerbescheid
Compare
Use SCHUFA-neutral rate inquiries across multiple lenders
Consider KfW
StartGeld from 3.49% p.a. with 80% risk guarantee for founders
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Sources and References
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- •Warning: Advance-Fee Fraud in Credit Applications- Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (vzbv)Consumer Protection
- •Warning About Unlicensed Credit Intermediaries- BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority)Authority
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Legal Notice
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Interest rates, loan terms, and provider policies are based on publicly available data as of March 2026 and may change without notice. For binding information, contact the lender directly or consult a licensed financial advisor. We earn affiliate commissions when you use our comparison tool at no additional cost to you. This does not influence our editorial content.