{"id":28718,"date":"2026-09-04T09:05:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:05:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nect.com\/?p=28718"},"modified":"2026-09-04T09:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T07:06:39","slug":"digital-identity-instead-of-activation-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nect.com\/en\/media\/case-studies\/digital-identity-instead-of-activation-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Identity Instead of Activation Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Case Study<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Digital Identity Instead of\nActivation Letter:\nHow Nect Redefines ELSTER\nAccess<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A practical report from NECT & ELSTER.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ELSTER\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Initial Situation:
Activation letters\ninstead of digital identification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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It is July 31, 2025, shortly before midnight. Tension prevails in thousands of households across Germany: The tax return must be submitted via ELSTER today. While activation letters, certificate files, and forgotten passwords used to cause stress, more and more people today simply reach for their smartphone and open the Nect Wallet. <\/p>\n

What used to take days now works in minutes: Digital identification with Nect Ident enables secure access to the tax platform, completely without paperwork or personal appointments. Over 18 million citizens are already using the Nect Wallet to identify themselves quickly and reliably for various purposes. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWith the NECT Wallet, we have successfully implemented another important digitalization step at ELSTER. This enables tax-paying citizens to register digitally with ELSTER in the shortest possible time and submit a return.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Markus Kamper<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHead of Division | ELSTER\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Success in Numbers<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Already by June 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNect Idents successfully performed\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe connection of the Nect Wallet offers ELSTER the\npossibility of a fully digital registration,\nwhich significantly shortens the process from\nseveral days to just a few minutes. The\nclassic route via the activation letter remains\nin place, but the solution offers a much\nsimpler and contemporary alternative. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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ELSTER becomes easier: Millions of users benefit from digital identification with Nect<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 2025, over 53 million tax returns\nwere transmitted via ELSTER. Already 1 million\npeople use Nect annually in the context of Elster. The service can be used for registration or\naccount renewal for a Mein ELSTER account, through which, for example, tax returns can be submitted or registration and use of the BundID is enabled. Another important step to further modernize access to ELSTER and simplify the process for citizens. In particular, last-minute registrations before a deadline have become easily possible. The changeover also brings advantages for the authorities. For example, the printing of letters by the authorities and the processing of returns are eliminated. The Nect interface bundles various identification methods, from fully automated Video-Ident to ePass, eID, and ReIdent. In the latter case, users are automatically guided to the appropriate procedure. This makes registration with ELSTER easier, faster, and consistently digital. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat remains is a new sense of digital sovereignty: Identification? Done in minutes. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Challenge: Complex access hurdles and high workload on deadlines<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Registering with ELSTER has previously been associated with challenges for many citizens. The classic route via activation letters was not only cumbersome but also prone to errors. Especially in the event of password loss or expired certificates, users often had to go through lengthy processes that led to stress and frustration, particularly on deadlines such as July 31, 2025. At the same time, the authorities were under pressure to handle the high demand efficiently. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo meet these challenges, ELSTER relies on Nect Ident. The technology enables fully digital identification, allowing users to register directly via the Nect Wallet and confirm their digital identity in a few minutes. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Selection Criteria for Nect Ident<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\teIDAS certified\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPatented real-time verification\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tISO-27001-certified German data centers\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFulfillment of the trust level \"high\" according to BSI-TR 03147\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo meet these challenges, ELSTER relies on Nect Ident. The technology enables fully digital identification, allowing users to register directly via the Nect Wallet and confirm their digital identity in a few minutes. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the event of password loss or an expired certificate, Nect also offers a simple way to renew access to ELSTER, completely without paperwork or personal appointments.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe goal was to offer a consistently fully digital registration process without media discontinuity and with immediate registration alongside the eID. At the same time, a modern and convenient process was to be created that removes hurdles for citizens. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe following criteria were of particular importance for the tender and represented a clear unique selling point: The existence of patents for certain security mechanisms, existing eIDAS certifications, as well as three ISO-27001-certified German data centers with their own hardware and no use of third-party clouds.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFurthermore, the exclusive operation in certified data centers in Germany and the complete development of the solution in Germany were highlighted as decisive features.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWith the Nect Wallet in \u2018Mein ELSTER\u2019, we are focusing on user-centered innovation. Together, we have created a solution that reduces bureaucracy and enables citizens to have a fully digital tax registration \u2013 efficient, without media discontinuities, and future-proof.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Timo Behrmann<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIndustry Lead Public Sector | Nect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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2nd Place in the App Store Charts and a\nSmooth Final Tax Sprint<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSince its introduction in mid-June 2024 until the end of June 2026, around 1.9 million successful Nect Idents have been performed. Nect identifications have already established themselves in approx. 25% of successful new registrations compared to letters and eID. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe success of this integration was impressively demonstrated on July 31. When countless people submitted their tax returns shortly before the deadline, the Nect Wallet app reached 2nd place in the German App Store download charts, even ahead of ChatGPT. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor identification with Nect, about 59% of users used the automated Video-Ident procedure, 22% used Re-Ident via the Nect Wallet, 16% used a procedure via the NFC interface of the ID document, while the eID was used by only 3% of all users.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Conclusion: A milestone for digital administration<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe cooperation is rated positively by all parties involved. Particularly valuable was the experience that optically captured name and address data can be reliably compared with official registration data. With the introduction of the new digital procedures, tax administration is becoming significantly more citizen-friendly, modern, and efficient. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The cooperation between ELSTER and Nect is not just a technical update; it represents important progress for digital administration in Germany. For the first time, citizens can register fully digitally with the online tax office without paper, without waiting times, and without media discontinuities. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The most important improvements at a glance<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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