When you register as self-employed, the Finanzamt will send you letters including your tax numbers and tax obligations (read more about letters you receive from the Finanzamt here).
In Germany, the frequency of VAT filings for self-employed individuals primarily depends on the annual turnover. The three main options are:
Monthly: If the amount of VAT due each year is above €7,500, you're required to file VAT returns on a monthly basis.
Quarterly: For businesses with an annual VAT amount due between €1,000 and €7,500, quarterly filings are the norm.
Yearly: If your annual amount of VAT due is below €1,000, you may opt for annual filings.
When you register as Self-Employed, the Finanzamt will define your tax obligations based on your inputs from the registration form. You can find the information in the confirmation letter which contains your Steuernummer.
If you're not sure, you can always reach out to your local Finanzamt office and enquire about your tax status and obligations. You can look up contact details of all local Finanzamt offices via this link.
Absolutely. Your VAT filing frequency can change as your business grows or experiences fluctuations in turnover. If your VAT amount surpasses the threshold during the fiscal year, you will have to inform the Finanzamt. Once you have done that they will inform you about your submission period based on your revenue.
From your Tax Settings page, make sure to input the correct VAT frequency. VAT obligations will show in your Taxes screen according to this setting
Author - Valesca Wilms
As content marketing lead at Accountable Belgium, Valesca writes about freelancing, self-employment, and taxes based on her own experience as a freelancer.
Who is Valesca ?Thank you for your feedback!
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