"We want to significantly expand the service for citizens in the coming years," says Sitzmann. This will be made possible, for example, by appointment scheduling, call-back and video conferencing systems as well as the expansion of digital case processing. "We want to improve and expand communication between citizens, tax advisors and companies in the region with the tax office," explained Andrea Heck, President of the Regional Tax Office. In addition, the existing ELSTER service offering is to be significantly expanded. Citizens can ask questions about ELSTER (such as authentication at ELSTER) at so-called ELSTER points. "We want to break down inhibitions and make it easier to get started at ELSTER," says Sitzmann.

The aim is for citizens to submit their tax returns electronically and thus directly provide the tax offices with the basis for further electronic processing. This not only simplifies workflows at the office and speeds up the process, but also saves resources in the long term. "The tax office has already shown several times in the past that it is particularly innovative. At the end of last year, for example, it won a prize in the national 'mobil gewinnt' competition, an initiative for alternative, ecological transportation concepts," reported Sitzmann.

Offenburg is one of two tax offices in the administrative district of Freiburg and one of a total of five tax offices in the state that are testing additional digitalization options, alongside Rottweil. "Being one of five tax offices of the future is good news for us. It is thanks to the commitment and ideas of the employees here at Offenburg. We now want to show how financial administration can become more modern," said Klaus-Thomas Teufel, head of the office.

Background "digital@bw"

Digitalization is a central focus of the state government's work. To this end, it has launched an investment offensive: around one billion euros will be invested in digitalization during this legislative period. In summer 2017, the first state-wide and cross-departmental digitalization strategy was presented at "digital@bw", which was created as a team effort by all ministries. Over the next two years, more than 70 very specific projects with a volume of over 300 million euros will be implemented in order to anchor Baden-Württemberg as a leading region for digital change in Europe. One of the focal points of "digital@bw" is Administration 4.0. With www.digital-bw.de, the state government has also launched a central online portal as a new showcase for digitalization.