{"id":797,"date":"2020-06-17T12:05:05","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T10:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/interstellar.accountable.de\/?p=797"},"modified":"2023-11-04T23:13:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T22:13:40","slug":"how-to-file-your-german-vat-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interstellar.accountable.de\/en\/blog\/how-to-file-your-german-vat-return\/","title":{"rendered":"How to file your German VAT return?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Submitting your VAT return to the Finanzamt doesn\u2019t need to be a headache. Here we walk you through how to file your VAT (or Umsatzsteuer) return and submit it to ElsterOnline, the German tax office\u2019s online service.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are a freelancer working in Germany and earning more than 22,000 EUR per year, you will most likely have registered to pay value-added tax (VAT), or <\/span>Umsatzsteuer<\/span> in German. This is a tax on goods and services which also applies to the services you offer as a freelancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the German VAT rates?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Germany, VAT is charged on most goods and services, at one of two rates: 7% and 19%. Which rate you need to charge your clients will depend on what kind of work you are undertaking. Please note that from 1 July to 31 December 2020 these VAT rates have been reduced to 5% and 16%, in response to the Corona crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

When to make your VAT return in Germany<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most freelancers make a VAT return at the end of each quarter, with any payment you owe due on the 10th of April, July, October and January. For this reason, it\u2019s a good idea to make the return as soon as you can, to avoid late payment. Note that in your first year of freelance work in Germany, you may be required to make more frequent monthly VAT returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, everyone who charges VAT is required to submit an annual VAT return at the end of each financial year. Thankfully, the forms are almost identical, so you\u2019ll be able to follow these steps no matter which cycle you\u2019re on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping good records for your VAT return<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are two things you can do in advance that will make completing your VAT return a breeze:<\/span><\/p>\n