1

Self-employment

2

Review your business idea

3

Prepare a business plan

4

Financing & public support

5

Business or liberal profession

6

Legal structure

7

Taxes & Accounting

8

Company insurance

9

Social insurance

10

Networks & contacts

Taxes & Accounting

Company taxes

Value-added tax (“Umsatzsteuer”)

Value-added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax on the exchange of goods and services. At present, the standard VAT tax rate in Germany is 19 percent. A reduced rate of 7 percent applies to certain consumer goods and everyday services. Some services are completely VAT exempt. Companies are obliged to add VAT to their prices and to invoice their customers accordingly. They must submit an advance VAT tax return to the tax office four times a year. Under certain circumstances (the “provision for small businesses”, “Kleinunternehmerregelung”), businesses can be exempted from VAT. Cross-border VAT: specific rules apply for businesses engaging in B2B or B2C cross-border trade within the EU or trade with Non-EU Member States.

Trade tax (“Gewerbesteuer”)

All commercial business operations are liable to trade tax. Although trade tax is regulated by federal law, it is a municipal tax with rates varying at the municipal level. Trade tax is paid on the annual trade income (essentially the same as profit) earned by self-employed business activities. The trade tax rate is determined by a federal rate of 3.5 percent and a multiplier [Hebesatz] stipulated individually by every municipality.  Example of city multiplier (with resulting trade tax rates in brackets): Munich – 490 percent (17.15 percent). Unincorporated firms enjoy a tax allowance of EUR 24,500 and these entrepreneurs can set off part of their trade tax liability against their income tax liability. There is no trade tax allowance for incorporated firms (e.g. GmbH/UG).

Corporation tax (“Körperschaftssteuer”)

This tax is based on the profits of incorporated firms (e.g. limited liability companies). A flat tax rate of 15 percent applies.

Mehr Informationen

Video: Overview of tax issues

www.startup-in-munich.de

Germany Trade and Invest: VAT

www.gtai.de

City of Munich: Trade Tax

stadt.muenchen.de

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK): Trade tax

www.ihk-muenchen.de

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK): VAT and small entrepreneurs

www.ihk-muenchen.de

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK): initial advice on taxes and law

www.ihk-muenchen.de

Cross-border VAT

europa.eu

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK): Tax due dates and deadlines

www.ihk-muenchen.de

Munich Tax Office: Tax guide for new businsses

www.bestellen.bayern.de

Finanzamt München: Steuertipps zur Existenzgründung

Personal taxes

Income tax (“Einkommensteuer”)

Tax on income – i.e. the sum of all revenues – is paid by natural persons. Income tax is paid on income from self-employed work (by business people and members of the liberal professions) and income from employment. The tax rate is progressive, i.e. it is linked to the amount of income. The higher your income, the higher the tax rate.  A taxpayer’s first EUR 9,984 (2022) of income is tax-free. Thereafter, the income tax rate starts at 14 percent and can reach a maximum overall rate of 45 percent. The rule is: the higher your taxable income, the higher the rate of taxation. In addition a solidarity surcharge of up to 5.5 percent may apply.

Mehr Informationen

Finance ministry: tax calculator

www.bmf-steuerrechner.de

Munich Tax Office: Information on income tax

www.finanzamt.bayern.de

Federal business startup portal: Taxes

www.existenzgruender.de/en

Income tax information for new businesses

www.ihk.de
Accounting

A general distinction is drawn between single-entry bookkeeping (with net income statements) and double-entry bookkeeping (with an annual balance sheet and income statement). Single-entry bookkeeping is easier and less expensive to use. Double-entry bookkeeping leads to significantly higher running costs for tax advice and for accounting activities. Single-entry bookkeeping is sufficient up to annual revenues of EUR 600,000 and annual profits of EUR 60,000. However, if your business exceeds either of these limits, the tax office will notify you that double-entry bookkeeping is compulsory.

Please note the following exceptions:

  • Incorporated firms (e.g. limited liability companies) must always use double-entry bookkeeping, regardless of their level of revenue or profit.
  • For self-employed persons in the liberal professions, single-entry bookkeeping is always sufficient, regardless of revenue and profit levels.

Mehr Informationen

IHK München: Accounting

www.ihk-muenchen.de

VHS München (adult education center): Accounting courses

www.mvhs.de
Invoicing correctly

If invoicing is not done correctly it often results in delayed payment. When you are issuing invoices, make sure they meet all the legal requirements. It makes no difference whether the invoices are for goods, services, or fees. Do you use invoices for small businesses (Kleinunternehmer) according to Section 19 of the VAT Act (UStG)? Or do you want to issue an invoice for a small amount (Kleinbetragsrechnung)? Here, too, there are certain requirements.

Mehr Informationen

Gründungsportal des Bundes: Rechnungen richtig stellen

www.existenzgruender.de

IHK München: Pflichtangaben in Rechnungen

www.ihk-muenchen.de

IHK München: Elektronische Rechnungen

www.ihk-muenchen.de

Finanzamt München: Muster für Rechnungen

www.finanzamt.bayern.de

Freie Berufe: Wie schreibe ich eine Rechnung? (PDF 535 KB)

http://ifb.uni-erlangen.de
Helpful hints

Helpful hints

There are all kinds of special cases and exceptions relating to tax issues. Please contact a tax adviser to find out about them!

Please note: The information in this document is not legally binding and cannot replace professional legal or tax advice! Please address detailed questions on tax or legal matters to a tax adviser or a lawyer.

Need help to find a tax adviser?
Deutscher Steuerberaterverband e.V.

www.bstbk.de

Need help finding a lawyer?

www.anwaltsauskunft.de

The local Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) provides initial advice on taxes and law.

www.ihk-muenchen.de

FAQ

Freelancing in Munich: Freiberufler or Gewerbe?

The terms “Freiberufler“, “freelancer” and “self-employed” are often confused and used as synonyms.

Please note: Self-employed people in Germany are

  • either business people [Gewerbetreibende] with an activity that is classified as a trade or a business [Gewerbe]
  • or members of the liberal professions [Freiberufler] with an activity that is classified as a liberal profession [Freier Beruf]

Different rules apply to these two categories.

It is very important that you distinguish between these two types of new businesses and find out which one is right for you.  Read on here