Instagram star from Cologne: Raphaela (28) turns content into taxes

Cologne –

Holiday greetings from the port of Marseille, snuggly pictures with cats or a beauty shot with a wine glass in hand – who’s on that Instagram profile of Raphaela Schmaltz from Cologne goes, who initially thinks she is on the account of a young, active, fashion-conscious woman who shares her life digitally with friends.

Cologne student starts on Instagram with the topic of taxes

But there is more to it: “steuer_ela ”, as it is called in the social network, builds bridges to the actual topic of your site in almost all images: taxes! The 28-year-old student is Cologne’s tax influencer. A topic that drives many other people to white heat becomes a lifestyle with “Ela”.

A dog can be seen – what about the subject of dog tax? Through the city on a motorcycle – how was that again with the steering wheel on two-wheelers? And what do you have to consider in a restaurant, for example in terms of hospitality costs? Schmaltz has the answers.

Tax issue: Cologne student Raphaela sells it charmingly

But isn’t the subject dry and boring? “Not at all,” says Raphaela, who completed her bachelor’s degree in tax law at the FOM University in Cologne (largest private university in Germany) and is now in the third semester of her master’s “Taxation” at the University Center in Cologne.

“Others might find it annoying, I just love it,” enthuses Ela, who immediately buys the euphoria. “In my everyday life I get to know so many different people and companies who have a story to tell – and these stories are behind every tax return,” says the 28-year-old with a smile.

Instagram: “Steuer_ela” also unpacks exciting information about taxes

That’s why she looked for appropriate channels on social media that she could follow herself. When she hardly found any, she became active herself. “I wanted to pass on light food for in between and both everyday relevant and entertaining information.”

And she succeeds on her Instagram account. Because: In addition to the conventional information about income taxes or short-time work benefits, Ela also unpacks exciting information about taxes that hardly anyone has on their radar.

Cologne student Raphaela (28) has over 3000 followers

“Who would have thought that the men had to pay a tax to the princess’s father in order to marry her. Or that wigs worn in public were also subject to taxes that had to be paid to the royal wig inspector, ”laughs Ela.

It now has over 3,100 followers, and the trend is steadily increasing. Of course, the topic of social media runs alongside, her studies at FOM Cologne and her job at a law firm in Hagen are in the foreground.

Success on Instagram: Cologne student wants to keep all doors open

Their path seems to be mapped out well before they graduate. But Raphaela wants to keep all doors open. Hopefully I’ll have my degree in 2022, and then take my tax advisor exam in 2023. Who knows where I’ll end up after that. ”She can also imagine a job as a lecturer.

And who knows what is still possible in the long term as “Cologne’s tax influencer” on Instagram. (tw)

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