A steering shaft may include an inner shaft at least partially within an outer shaft where the inner shaft includes a sliding element with an outer profile portion. The outer shaft may be displaced relative to the inner shaft axially in a direction of a longitudinal axis between a storage position and an operating position. A steering column may include an inner covering pipe in which such a steering shaft is rotatably supported and an outer covering unit in which the inner covering pipe is retained. The outer shaft may have a bearing means having an inner profile portion that corresponds to the outer profile portion. In the storage position the outer profile portion is at least partially received in the bearing means.