On this page you’ll find everything you need to know about German VAT registration, Returns, Tax Representation and your legal obligations within Germany.
We offer a full representation service as your Tax Agent
Fill out a simple form and provide the required Identity documents and we'll do the rest
In Germany we file VAT returns monthly, simply send us your VAT report from your marketplace and we'll do the rest.
Support your way. Our professional staff are ready to help when needed. We can arrange meetings with any of our offices around the globe.
We'll answer all and any questions you may have, even after you are registered via Email, Phone, Skype, Wechat or Whatsapp. We understand the needs of a thriving business like yours.
You may also need to register for VAT separately in other EU countries if:
You need to register for VAT in the Germany if:
You need to register for VAT in Germany if:
| Rate | Type |
| 19% | Standard |
| 7% | Reduced |
| 0% | Zero |
Registering for VAT in a different country can be a daunting task, especially when new rules & regulations come out, At VAT Digital we help handle all of your German VAT Obligations by registering you for VAT and completing your monthly VAT returns including the 13th end of year return all for one simple fee. We will register you for VAT to be able to sell in Germany from your home country for selling on sites such as Amazon.de , Ebay.de and various other E-commerce websites and various other E-commerce websites including services and direct trade to Ireland.
Germany introduced Value Added Tax in 1968. The rules, which are based on the European Union which German has included into its VAT Act. The tax is administered by the Ministry of Finance.
Foreign companies, or ‘non-resident’ traders, providing goods or services in Germany to local businesses or consumers may have to register their business for German VAT. They will then have to follow the German VAT compliance rules, including invoicing and VAT rates, as well as pay over any German VAT due.
New regulations in EU and more widely know and enforced on the Amazon platform means that if you are selling your goods on Amazon in a European country it is very likely you WILL have to register for VAT in Germany and possible other member states if your sell there also.
There are a number of trading situations which typically require a foreign trader to register with the German tax authorities such as;
When a company is first VAT registered, it is allocated to one of the many German tax offices around the country. The allocation is based on the country of residency of the trader. For example:
If there are misdeclarations or late fillings of Germany VAT returns, foreign companies may be subject to penalties. Late filings are subject to a charge of 10% of the VAT due, with a limit of €25,000. If the payment is delayed, there is a further charge of 1% of the VAT due per month overdue. There is a four year statute of limitations for German VAT, except for fraud, in which case it is extended to ten years.
19% Standard – All other taxable goods and services.
7% Reduced – Some foodstuffs; water supplies (excluding bottled water); medical equipment for disabled persons; some domestic passenger transport; intra-community and international passenger transport for certain road, rail and inland waterway transportation; books (excluding e-books and books whose content is harmful to minors); audiobooks; newspapers and periodicals (except those containing content harmful to minors and/or more than 50% advertising); admission to cultural events; writers and composers; some agricultural inputs; hotel accommodation; certain admission to sports events; social services; medical and dental care; firewood; some timber for industrial use; take away food; cut flowers and plants for decorative use and food production; taxation of some gold coins and jewellery.
0% Zero – Intra-community and international transport (excluding road and rail and some inland waterways transport).
a VAT registration in Germany can take anywhere between 8-12 weeks if an application has been submitted correctly. A wrongly submitted application could take longer and for non-eu businesses the Tax administration may ask for additional information before registering you for German VAT
The German tax authorities require sellers using online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay to register for a new Certificate named ‘USt 1 TI’, which confirms the seller is up-to-date on their VAT compliance.
The Certificate will be valid for three years before you have to re-apply and you MUST be VAT registerted in Germany to apply for the certificate.
The requirement will apply to non-EU sellers from 1 March 2019, and EU sellers from 1 October 2019. Marketplaces are required to collect and hold these certificates for any traders on their platforms that are German VAT registered. Failure to do so will make the marketplace liable for any unpaid VAT of the selle
VAT is charged on all goods, also known as Value Added Tax, it is a consumer tax based on the goods you sell or buy. Registering for VAT allows you to claim the VAT back and offset it agaisnt your purchases.
Most companies do not need to register for VAT in the Germany until they hit the distance selling or tax threshold but there are certain requirements where you have to immediately register for VAT regardless of turnover.
All of our packages include registration and VAT returns, plus other additional services
