Elster MCP server
Drive the German tax portal ELSTER via Puppeteer: submit UStVA, prepare EUER/ESt, sync inbox.
13 stars39 downloads/wk
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If you have run it, two minutes of your experience saves the next person an afternoon.
Elster tools (14, 2 write)
write = sends, deletes, buys or postsRead from the package source without running it. The installed server may list more.
elster_config_showShows the currently loaded ELSTER configuration (with secrets redacted) so you can verify env vars / config.json were picked up.
elster_est_startStarts an ESt 1 A (Einkommensteuererklärung) form-prep session. Opens the form, fills taxpayer basics from config + any extra fields you provide (by ELSTER input id/name hint), runs Prüfung, then waits 30 min for you to review in the portal. NEVER submits.
elster_eur_startStarts an EÜR (Anlage Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung) form-prep session. Fills the form up to Prüfung, then tries to "Speichern und Verlassen" so the draft survives in ELSTER. NEVER submits.
elster_kennziffern_listReturns the list of supported UStVA Kennziffern (codes 81, 86, 66 etc.) with descriptions and whether they are NET (base amount) or TAX (tax amount).
elster_login_testVerifies that the configured certificate + password can log into the ELSTER portal. Returns success and final URL or an error. Use this once before submitting anything.
elster_session_cancelwrite actionCancels a running session (closes the browser, marks status as CANCELLED).
elster_session_listLists all currently tracked sessions (USTVA / EUR / EST / SYNC) with their status.
elster_session_statusReturns the current status, progress log, and any screenshot path for a session started via elster_ustva_start / elster_eur_start / elster_est_start.
elster_sync_historyReads "Übermittelte Formulare" (transmission history) from ELSTER. Optionally downloads PDFs.
elster_sync_inboxReads ELSTER inbox messages ("Posteingang"). Optionally downloads each message as PDF.
elster_ustva_confirmConfirms submission of a UStVA session that is in AWAITING_CONFIRM state. Triggers the final "Absenden" click. Returns the transmission ticket on success.
elster_ustva_detect_reverse_chargewrite actionTests whether a voucher would be detected as Reverse-Charge (§13b UStG) based on the configured supplier patterns. Returns matched supplier and region (EU / NON_EU), or null.
elster_ustva_generate_xmlGenerates an ELSTER UStVA XML snapshot for archiving. Does NOT submit (submission goes via elster_ustva_start). Useful for audit trails.
elster_ustva_startStarts a UStVA submission session. Opens a browser, logs in, fills the form, runs Prüfung, then PAUSES at AWAITING_CONFIRM. You must explicitly call elster_ustva_confirm to send. Returns a sessionId — poll status via elster_session_status.
Public scan report
scanner v0.1.9 · 2026-09-26 · same rubric, same numbers if you re-run it
- Code scan24 source files scanned25/25
- –Live reliabilityno gateway calls yet and no remote to proben/a
- –Tool poisoningtools not inspected (local package is not executed); not countedn/a
- Auth qualitystatic API keys via environment variables6/15
- Maintenancelast push 75 days ago12/15
- Maintainer identityregistry namespace matches repository owner; GitHub account older than a year8/10
Install Elster in Claude Code, Cursor or VS Code
Runs npx -y elster-mcp-server on your machine. Read the scan report first; the gateway never runs local packages.
claude mcp add elster-mcp-server -- npx -y elster-mcp-server
What the publisher says
From the Elster repository's README, as published. We do not edit it. Read it on GitHub
elster-mcp-server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that lets Claude (or any MCP-capable client) drive the German tax portal ELSTER via Puppeteer.
⚖️ Legal Notice / Rechtlicher Hinweis
English
- This project is an experimental, community-built tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by the Bundesministerium der Finanzen, the ELSTER project, or any tax authority.
- The official, supported way to submit tax data programmatically is the ERiC library (registration as a software vendor required). This tool instead automates the public ELSTER web portal with a real user session — the same path a human user takes — using credentials YOU provide.
- The official ELSTER terms of use ("Nutzungsbedingungen") may restrict automated access to the portal. Whether your specific use is permitted is your responsibility to verify before running this software.
- Use at your own risk. The author(s) provide this software AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND (see LICENSE). The author(s) accept NO liability for incorrect tax submissions, account suspensions, missed deadlines, lost data, or any other consequences arising from the use of this software.
- This project is not tax advice (no "Hilfeleistung in Steuersachen" in the sense of § 2 StBerG). If you are unsure whether a submission is correct, consult a Steuerberater.
- Operators using this software in a commercial context (e.g. submitting on behalf of third parties) may be subject to the German Steuerberatungsgesetz and must verify their own licensing situation.
Deutsch
- Dieses Projekt ist ein experimentelles, von der Community gebautes Werkzeug. Es ist weder vom Bundesministerium der Finanzen noch vom ELSTER-Projekt noch von einer Finanzbehörde unterstützt, autorisiert oder geprüft.
- Der offizielle, vom BMF unterstützte Weg zur programmatischen Übermittlung von Steuerdaten ist die ERiC-Bibliothek (Registrierung als Softwarehersteller erforderlich). Dieses Tool nimmt stattdessen den Weg über das öffentliche ELSTER-Webportal — denselben Weg, den ein menschlicher Nutzer per Browser geht — mit Zertifikatsdaten, die DU bereitstellst.
- Die offiziellen ELSTER-Nutzungsbedingungen können automatisierten Zugriff auf das Portal einschränken oder verbieten. Es liegt in deiner alleinigen Verantwortung zu prüfen, ob dein konkreter Anwendungsfall erlaubt ist, bevor du dieses Tool nutzt.
- Nutzung auf eigenes Risiko. Die Autor:innen stellen die Software OHNE JEGLICHE GEWÄHRLEISTUNG bereit (siehe LICENSE). Die Autor:innen übernehmen keine Haftung für fehlerhafte Steuerübermittlungen, gesperrte Konten, versäumte Fristen, Datenverluste oder sonstige Folgen aus der Nutzung dieser Software.
- Dieses Projekt ist keine Steuerberatung im Sinne des § 2 StBerG. In Zweifelsfällen ist ein:e Steuerberater:in zu konsultieren.
- Wer diese Software gewerblich einsetzt (z.B. Übermittlung im Auftrag Dritter), unterliegt unter Umständen dem Steuerberatungsgesetz und muss seine Berechtigung selbst sicherstellen.
Practical safeguards built into the tool
- The only tool that actually transmits data is elsterustvaconfirm — it requires an explicit second call after elsterustvastart has paused at AWAITING_CONFIRM. Nothing is sent without that second confirmation.
- The EÜR and ESt tools never submit. They only fill the form up to "Prüfen" and stop, so you review and submit yourself in the ELSTER portal.
- All sync / history / inbox tools are read-only and never modify state on the ELSTER side.
Features
Shortened. The full README is on GitHub.
Nothing above is checked by us. What we check is on the safety report.
Elster: common questions
- Is Elster MCP server safe?
- Mostly: it is graded B (78/100). Read the Elster safety report
- How do I install Elster?
- It runs on your machine. Copy the Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or Claude Desktop config from the install section.
- Does Elster need an API key?
- Yes. The registry entry asks for
ELSTER_PASSWORD. - Is Elster maintained?
- The last commit was 76 days ago (2026-07-13). The latest release is v0.1.0.
- What can I use instead of Elster?
- Servers from other publishers that do the same job: Agenticmail MCP server, Workspace MCP server and Atomic Mail MCP server. Compare all Elster alternatives.
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