North Rhine-Westphalia: First federal state to use artificial intelligence in tax assessment matters

The Northrhine-Westphalia tax authorities are taking a further step towards digital administration. From May 2025, an AI module will be used for the first time in four pilot tax offices in the state to support the tax assessment procedure. The objective: tax returns are to be processed more efficiently, faster and more accurately - to the benefit of both citizens and employees in the tax administrations.

The new AI module complements the proven risk management system of the tax authorities. It recognizes patterns in the tax data and can specifically identify easy-to-understand cases with little need for checking. These are processed automatically - and therefore completed more quickly.

The trial phase starts in May 2025 at the Brühl, Bielefeld-Außenstadt, Hamm and Lübbecke tax offices. The pilot will start with conventional employee matters - i.e. tax returns with income from employment, investment income, pension expenses, extraordinary expenses, household-related services and similar areas. An extension to other case scenarios is already being planned.

Source:

Ministry of Finance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, press release dated April 22, 2025.