Translate German to English and know what each letter wants
German paperwork arrives full of long compound words: Nebenkostenabrechnung, Widerspruchsfrist, Zahlungsaufforderung. Missing a Frist can cost money. Send your todo.is agent a photo or PDF and it translates the letter into plain English, explains the official terms and lists every deadline and payment.
The prompt
- Translate this German [ATTACH THE LETTER, PDF OR PHOTO] into plain English. It is from [SENDER, E.G. HAUSVERWALTUNG, FINANZAMT OR KRANKENKASSE]. Run OCR if it is a scan. Give me: a full translation with the same paragraphs; a box with what they want, the amount and the exact deadline as a date; and a glossary of the German official terms used. If I can object or need to reply, say how and by when, and draft [THE REPLY I NEED] in formal German with an English version. Save it as a Word file. Add the deadline to my Google Calendar: [YES OR NO].
What to change
- [ATTACH THE LETTER, PDF OR PHOTO]: A PDF or a clear photo of each page. Several pages are fine.
- [SENDER, E.G. HAUSVERWALTUNG, FINANZAMT OR KRANKENKASSE]: Who sent it: property management, tax office, health insurer, Jobcenter, school, employer.
- [THE REPLY I NEED]: E.g. "a request to see the receipts", "a request for more time to pay" or "no reply".
- [YES OR NO]: "Yes" if your Google account is connected to todo.is and you want a calendar reminder.
Example result
- Translation: Nebenkostenabrechnung 2024
- German → English · from Hausverwaltung Krause GmbH · 3 pages
- Original (extract)
- Aus der Abrechnung ergibt sich eine Nachzahlung in Höhe von 286,40 €. Wir bitten um Überweisung bis zum 30.04.2025. Ihre monatliche Vorauszahlung wird ab dem 01.05.2025 auf 245,00 € angepasst. Die Belege können nach Terminvereinbarung eingesehen werden.
- English
- The statement shows a back payment of €286.40. Please transfer it by April 30, 2025. From May 1, 2025, your monthly advance payment will be adjusted to €245.00. You can inspect the receipts by appointment.
- What they want
- • Pay €286.40 by April 30, 2025
- • Your monthly service-charge payment rises to €245.00 from May
- • You may look at the original bills (heating, water, cleaning) by appointment
- Terms explained
- • Nebenkosten: service charges on top of rent (heating, water, waste, building cleaning, insurance)
- • Nachzahlung: a back payment you owe; the opposite is Guthaben, a credit to you
- • Vorauszahlung: the monthly advance you pay with the rent
- • Belege einsehen: inspect the receipts
- • Hausverwaltung: property management company
- Draft reply (German)
- Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
- vielen Dank für die Nebenkostenabrechnung 2024. Bevor ich die Nachzahlung leiste, möchte ich die Belege einsehen. Bitte nennen Sie mir einen Termin.
- Mit freundlichen Grüßen
- *(Thank you for the 2024 statement. Before I pay, I would like to see the receipts. Please suggest an appointment.)*
- Good to know
- In Germany, tenants generally have 12 months after receiving the statement to raise objections. Check your lease or ask a tenants' association (Mieterverein) if the amount looks wrong.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and name the sender, for example Finanzamt, Jobcenter or your landlord.
- Snap each page or attach the PDF, then send it to your agent in the todo.is app or on WhatsApp.
- Read the box with the amount and deadline first; the full translation and glossary follow.
- Edit the German reply if needed and ask for a PDF to print, or a Gmail draft if your account is connected.
Tips for a better result
- German letters write dates as 30.04.2025 (day.month.year). Let your agent put deadlines in your calendar so you do not misread them.
- Look for Frist, bis zum and innerhalb von. They mark deadlines, and missing one can make a decision final.
- A Bescheid is an official decision. It usually ends with a Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung that explains how and when you can object.
- For tax, residence permit or court matters, use the translation to understand the letter, then talk to an adviser or a lawyer.
translate German to English: FAQ
- What does Frist mean in a German letter? Frist means deadline. Letters often say "innerhalb eines Monats nach Bekanntgabe" (within one month after notification), and your agent turns that into a date.
- Can I translate a German letter from a photo? Yes. Take a clear, flat photo of each page. Your agent reads the text with OCR and then translates it, tables included.
- What is a Widerspruch? A Widerspruch is a formal written objection to an official decision, sent before the deadline. Your agent can draft one in German, but check important cases with an adviser.
- Are my letters safe with todo.is? Your files stay in your own agent workspace, and only your agent uses them.
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