# ELSTER

> German government tax filing portal and electronic tax return system

**Wikidata**: [Q1275118](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1275118)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elster

## Summary
ELSTER (officially **Elektronische Steuererklärung**) is a software application designed for tax declaration in Germany. It functions as a non-tangible executable component of a computer system, allowing users to perform the logical operations required for electronic tax filing. The platform serves as a digital means to bridge the gap between tax payers and administrative requirements.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Elektronische Steuererklärung
- **Short Name:** ELSTER
- **Primary Function:** Software for tax declaration in Germany
- **Aliases:** COALA, ElsterOnline, ElsterFormular
- **Entity Type:** Instance of Software
- **Website:** https://www.elster.de/
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1q2xhjn6k
- **Wine AppDB ID:** 1925
- **Chocolatey Community Package ID:** elsterformular
- **Wikimedia Commons Category:** Elster (software)
- **Wikipedia Language Coverage:** Commons, German (de), Spanish (es)
- **Dewey Decimal Classification:** 005.3 (Software)

## FAQs
### Q: What different forms or aliases does ELSTER use?
The software is known by several names depending on the specific interface or version, including ElsterOnline, ElsterFormular, and COALA.

### Q: Is ELSTER considered a physical product?
No, as an instance of software, it is a non-tangible executable component and a creative work, distinct from physical computer hardware.

### Q: In which technical databases is ELSTER listed?
Beyond its official presence, ELSTER is tracked in technical repositories such as the Chocolatey community package manager (ID: elsterformular) and the Wine AppDB (ID: 1925), which tracks Windows software compatibility.

### Q: How is ELSTER classified academically or in library systems?
As a software entity, it falls under the Dewey Decimal Classification codes 005 and 005.3 and is considered a subclass of creative work, written work, means, and product.

## Why It Matters
ELSTER matters because it digitizes the critical governmental function of tax collection. By defining tax declaration as a software-based process, it transforms the general-purpose computer into a specific tool for financial compliance and arithmetic operations. This shift reduces the reliance on physical paperwork (hardware-based storage) in favor of executable logic and digital data. It represents a significant application of software engineering principles—such as source code architecture and testability—applied to the public sector, ensuring that complex tax regulations can be processed through standardized, executable means.

## Notable For
- **Specific Utility:** It is a specialized tool specifically built for the German tax declaration process.
- **Multi-Platform Presence:** It is distinct for having identifiers across distinct software ecosystems, including Google Knowledge Graph, Chocolatey (Windows automation), and Wine (Linux compatibility).
- **Standardization:** It is a recognized instance of the "software" class, categorized under strict library standards like the Dewey Decimal system.
- **Nomenclature:** Notable for maintaining multiple official and unofficial aliases (COALA, ElsterOnline) that describe its various interaction modes.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
ELSTER is formally defined as the non-tangible executable component of a computer system utilized for tax purposes. Its official designation is "Elektronische Steuererklärung." Within taxonomic structures, it is an instance of **software**, a class defined by several key characteristics:
- **Nature:** It is a subclass of creative work, written work, means, and product.
- **Opposite:** It is the functional opposite of computer hardware.
- **Composition:** Like all software, it is composed of computer programs and data.
- **Function:** It serves as a tool for a computer to perform arithmetic or logical operations specifically related to tax data.

### Technical Characteristics
As a software entity, ELSTER is characterized by the standard attributes of its class, including source code, software architecture, software quality, and testability. It is an executable logic that requires a computer to function. The software has a notable footprint in technical compatibility databases:
- **Wine AppDB:** It is listed with ID 1925, indicating tracking for compatibility on non-native operating systems via the Wine compatibility layer.
- **Chocolatey:** It is distributed or managed via the Chocolatey community package repository under the ID "elsterformular."

### Ecosystem and Identifiers
ELSTER operates within a broader digital ecosystem evidenced by its numerous identifiers and sitelinks:
- **Google Knowledge Graph:** ID `/g/1q2xhjn6k`
- **Wikimedia:** The entity has a sitelink count of 3, covering Wikimedia Commons and the German and Spanish Wikipedias. It is categorized under "Elster (software)" on Commons.
- **Image Resource:** Visual representation is provided via the file `Elster-verfahren-abstrakt-2017.png` on Wikimedia Commons.

### Aliases and Versions
The software is referred to by multiple names which may correspond to different functionalities or versions:
1.  **COALA**
2.  **ElsterOnline**
3.  **ElsterFormular**

These aliases represent the various manifestations of the electronic tax declaration tool. The software is hosted and accessible via its official domain at `https://www.elster.de/`.

### Academic and Industry Context
As a subject of software engineering and software studies, ELSTER fits into the broader history of software that includes diverse applications ranging from Java to CAD tools. It exemplifies the classification of software as a "creative work" and a "means" of achieving administrative ends. It adheres to the Dewey Decimal Classification 005.3, placing it firmly within the category of computer software.