Business in Germany

If you are an expat living in Germany and you are worried about filing your taxes or you are in the need of any advice on your specific financial circumstances, it can be beneficial to consult a tax advisor. Having a good, trustworthy tax advisor can especially be beneficial if your financial situation is complicated, for example, in the case of working as a freelancer or self-employed, or when having multiple sources of income.

The legal form of your business will determine the various types of taxes applicable to your business. Freelancers and sole proprietorships are taxed differently than corporations.

Every business in Germany (with some exceptions) are liable to pay trade tax (Gewerbesteuer). There are various types of taxes that are applied depending on the business type and how it is registered. The trade tax in Germany is determined and collected by each municipality, therefor the location of your business will greatly determine your tax burden when it comes to trade tax.

By the introduction of the tax identification number (IdNo, or TIN) in 2008, Germany wants to modernise its tax system by making it less bureaucratic. It aims to simplify the taxation procedure by making electronically provided and pre-filled tax return forms possible, among others.

The VAT number in Germany is used to identify you when making payments to the VAT department in Germany (Finanzamt). The VAT number is referred to with different names, but they all mean the same: Umsatzsteuernummer, Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer or USt-IdNr.

To look for jobs in Germany there are lots of places you can go and many can be contacted before you arrive. We have collected some of the most effective resources, to get you started:

Locating work in Germany can be difficult for non-residents of the country, particularly when that person is not from a country that belongs to the European Union. This problem can be compounded by Germany’s system of trade bodies, which may or may not recognise qualifications that have been gained within another country.

Many Germans and foreigners working in Germany choose to submit an annual income tax declaration (Einkommensteuererklärung). Generally speaking, if you are employed and subject to payroll tax, it is not necessary to submit a tax return.

Do you want to apply for a visa as a freelancer in Germany? It is great because it’s the ladder to greater independence, creativity, flexibility, and a new way of life. You may not need an office and a working protocol to follow; you choose the clients and the projects to work for.Make some coffee and read through this guide on how to get a visa as a freelancer in Germany. It explains the application procedure, whether from within Germany or from your home country.

Expanding your business ideas by utilizing your customer base is crucial to your business. On the other hand, it is a daunting task that requires you to come up with various strategies. The following hacks will help you maximize your customer base.