German Tax IDs for Freelancers Explained
Figuring out your German freelance tax ID is the first step for starting your self-employment in Germany. Let’s learn all about tax IDs for freelancers in Germany.
German Tax IDs for Freelancers
Learn about the three essential tax IDs for freelancers and sole traders in Germany.
Steuer ID ->
German Tax ID
Also known as:
- Steueridentifikationsnummer
- Identifikationsnummer
Steuernummer ->
German Tax Number
(for freelancer, sole traders and other self-employed people in Germany)
Also known as:
- St. -Nr.
Umsatzsteuer-ID ->
VAT ID
Also known as:
- Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer
- USt-Identifikationsnummer or
- USt-IdNr
Steuer ID is your unique and permanent German tax identification number.
Every individual is assigned a unique Steuer ID in Germany – even newborn children.
German tax ID comes in a XX XXX XXX XXX format.
German Steuer ID is used for any communication with Finanzamt (German tax authority).
They use your German tax ID to identify you.
If you are employed in Germany, then your employer will need your German Steuer ID to add it to your payslips.
Yes, all foreigners in Germany also get a Steuer ID.
They automatically receive their Steuer ID after registering their address at their responsible Bürgeramt.
It takes about two weeks for Finanzamt to send your German tax ID via post to your registered address in Germany.
If you cannot find or misplaced your German tax ID, you can request it again very easily using this online form.
A Steuernummer is your German freelance tax number.
Steuernummer is assigned to self-employed people in Germany. Every self-employed person will have a Steuer-ID AND a Steuernummer.
A German freelance tax number comes in a XX/XXX/XXXXX format.
Steuernummer is your unique freelancer tax number in Germany. It is required for filing German freelancer taxes.
You use it on your invoices, on your business website and for various tax-related purposes.
Without your German freelancer tax number, you may not be able to send invoices, get paid and file taxes in Germany.
Steuer ID is your German tax ID.
- Every resident in Germany receives this number.
- It is similar to a Social Security Number in the USA or Aadhaar in India.
- A German tax ID remains the same throughout your life.
Steuernummer is the German tax number for freelancers and sole traders.
- Only self-employed people in Germany need a Steuernummer.
- A German freelancer tax ID is associated with your local Finanzamt where you registered your self-employment.
- Your Steuernummer will change if you move to a new city or state in Germany.
You get a Steuernummer when you register as a freelancer in Germany.
You register as a freelancer by filling up a form called ‘Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung‘.
As of 2021, this can only be done online via ELSTER or through an official online tax filing tool (that is integrated with ELSTER).
GetSorted is one such tool that lets you fill up this form in simple English and directly send it online to your local Finanzamt.
It can take 2-4 weeks to get your German freelancer tax number via post by Finanzamt.
No.
Your Steuernummer is associated with your current Finanzamt and freelance activity.
If you ever change address or move to a different city, you will have to register again with your new responsible tax office in Germany.
If you get married and decide to file joint taxes, then you will receive a new freelance tax number from your Finanzamt.
Umsatzsteuer is VAT in German. VAT stands for Value Added Tax.
VAT ID is the unique identification number that you get when you have a VAT obligation as a freelancer in Germany.
A VAT ID is a 9 digit number with the format DEXXXXXXXXX.
You add your German VAT ID to your invoices when you charge VAT from your clients and customers.
You can also use your VAT ID when you want to deduct the VAT from your business expenses.
If your annual income from self-employment is lower than €22.000 in the past financial year (and lower than €50.000 in the current financial year), you will be exempted from VAT obligations.
This is called Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation).
Finanzamt will not send you a VAT ID if you declare yourself as a small business owner (Kleintunternehmer) during your registration process.
You can apply for a VAT ID when you register as a freelancer in Germany.
There is a field in the registration form that asks you if you need a VAT ID.
When you check this option as yes, Finanzamt will send you a VAT ID.
You register as a freelancer by filling up a form called ‘Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung‘.
As of 2021, this can only be done online via ELSTER or through an official online tax filing tool (that is integrated with ELSTER).
GetSorted is one such tool that lets you fill up this form in simple English and directly send it online to your local Finanzamt.
Register as a Freelancer in Germany
If you want to register yourself as a freelancer in Germany, then read this step by step guide.
This registration procedure starts with the submission of a completed ‘Tax Number Registration Form’, called “Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung” at the Finanzamt of the city where you’re registered as a resident.
Once you register as a freelancer in Germany, you will receive the following tax numbers from your Finanzamt.
1) a German Freelancer Tax Number (mandatory)
2) a German VAT number (circumstantial)
In summary, to fill the German tax registration form completely, you should have some important details ready at hand.
- Your German tax ID number or Identifikationsnummer
- Your personal details
- Your bank details
- An exact description of your future self-employment activity
- Financial details of your future self-employment activity
You can find your responsible Finanzamt in two ways:
- Use the website of Bundeszentralamt für Steuern: Type the name of your city or district in the search field. The result should be your responsible tax authority.
- Use Google search: Search for your responsible Finanzamt by using the search terms ‘your city’ + Finanzamt. Usually, the first search result will be correct.
In the case of big cities, you may see multiple Finanzamt offices like ‘Finanzamt Nürnberg-Süd’, ‘Finanzamt Nürnberg-Nord’ or ‘Zentralfinanzamt Nürnberg’.
In such cases, type in ‘your district + ‘zuständiges Finanzamt’. Sometimes typing in with your postcode can also lead you in the right direction.
Self-employment in Germany is divided into certain categories and sub-categories.
A freelancer is a self-employed person who practices one of the categorised free professions (Freie Berufe).
Watch this video explanation of the difference between freelancer and sole trader.
Based on how you describe your profession in the registration form, your Finanzamt will recognise you either as a freelancer (Freiberufler) or a trader (Gewerbetreibender).
In case, you are a trader, then you will need to get a licence at the local Trade Office (Gewerbeschein).
You also get a German VAT number by filling up the Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung.
Value Added Tax is often called Umsatzsteuer or Mehrwertsteuer in Germany.
As of January 2020, if your annual income is lower than 22.000 Euro, you are classified as a small business owner and therefore will be exempt from VAT. This is called Kleinunternehmerregelung.
Kleinunternehmerregelung means small business regulation.
You will not get a VAT number if you declare yourself as a small business owner (Kleintunternehmer) since small businesses in Germany do not charge or pay VAT.
There are three ways to fill this German freelance tax registration form:
- Online on the website of Bundesministerium der Finanzen in German.
Note that, each session is valid for 45 minutes only. If you take longer than this, the form will refresh and you will lose all your data.
- Online on Sorted in English
This is a free freelancer tax registration service by Sorted. With this service you can fill up Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung in English.
- Online on Accountable in English
You can use Accountable to register as a freelancer in Germany in English. It is also a free service.
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