Technical Glitch Sends 1,700 Identical Tax Letters to German Man

A software error during the time change caused an unusual mailing mishap, prompting an apology from the finance ministry.

A resident of Quickborn, Schleswig-Holstein, received 1,700 identical letters from the tax office due to a technical error.
The error occurred when the man's application for Elster online tax portal access was processed during the time change.
The finance ministry explained that the system entered a 'time loop,' repeatedly sending the same letter.
The man declined the ministry's offer to collect and destroy the surplus letters, opting to use them as fuel instead.
The incident highlights the fully automated, nationwide processing of Elster applications, which lacks human oversight.