Germany increases threshold for mandatory VAT registration
The annual registration threshold for mandatory Value Added Tax rose on the 1 January 2025 as follows:
- 2024: if previous year turnover was €22,000 and current year is forecast to exceed €50,000; to
- 2025: if previous year turnover was €25,000 and current year is forecast to exceed €100,000.
At the same time, Germany introduced the EU Special SME VAT threshold for €100,000. This enables EU-resident business to sell in other EU states VAT exempt if they remain below this threshold. This does require them to register with their national authority and perform quarterly sale reporting.
The above changes was effected by the Annual Tax Act 2024 (Jahressteuergesetz 2024)
German VAT registration is required for businesses conducting taxable activities in Germany. Companies register with the German tax office (Finanzamt) to obtain a VAT identification number (Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer). After registration, businesses must charge German VAT (standard rate 19%, reduced rate 7%) on applicable sales and file regular VAT returns to declare collected and paid VAT. The process involves submitting application forms, supporting documents, and adhering to German tax compliance rules.
2025 EU VAT registration & Intrastat reporting threshold
| Country | VAT Registration thresholds | Intrastat thresholds | |||||
| Resident | Non-resident | Arrivals | Dispatches | Arrivals Statistical | Dispatches Statistical | ||
| EU SME Scheme | €85,000 max | €100,000 EU residents only | |||||
| EU One-Stop Shop | €10,000 | €10,000 EU sellers only | - | - | - | - | |
| Austria | €55,000 | Nil | €1,100,000 | €1,100,000 | €12m | €12m | |
| Belgium | €25,000 | Nil | €1,500,000 | €1,000,000 | €25m | €25m | |
| Bulgaria | BGN 100,000 | Nil | BGN 1.7m | BGN 2.2m | €17m | €36.1m | |
| Croatia | €60,000 | Nil | €450,000 | €300,000 | €450,000 | €300,000 | |
| Cyprus | €15,600 | Nil | €350,000 | €75,000 | €2.7m | €5.8m | |
| Czechia | CZK 2m | Nil | CZK 15m | CZK 15m | CZK 30m | CZK 30m | |
| Denmark | DKK 50,000 | Nil | DKK 41m | DKK 11.3m | DKK 41m | DKK 11.3m | |
| Estonia | €40,000 | Nil | Withdrawn | €350,000 | Withdrawn | €350,000 | |
| Finland | €20,000 | Nil | €800,000 | €800,000 | €800,000 | €800,000 | |
| France | Goods €85,000 Services €37,500 | Nil | Discretionary | Discretionary | Discretionary | Discretionary | |
| Germany | €25k prior yr & €100k this yr | Nil | €3m | €1m | €49m | €52m | |
| Greece | Nil | Nil | €200,000 | €90,000 | €200,000 | €90,000 | |
| Hungary | HUF 18m | Nil | HUF 400m | HUF 160m | HUF 5.5bn | HUF 15bn | |
| Ireland | Goods €85,000 Services €42,500 | Nil | €750,000 | €750,000 | €5m | €34m | |
| Italy | €85,000 | Nil | €350k goods; €100k services | €0 | €350k goods; €100k services | €0 | |
| Latvia | €50,000 | Nil | €350,000 | €200,000 | €5m | €7m | |
| Lithuania | €45,000 | Nil | €570,000 | €400,000 | €7m | €10m | |
| Luxembourg | €50,000 | Nil | €250,000 | €200,000 | €4m | €8m | |
| Malta | Goods €35,000 Other €30,000 | Nil | €700 | €700 | €700 | €700 | |
| Netherlands | €20,000 | Nil | Discretionary | Discretionary | Discretionary | Discretionary | |
| Poland | PLN 200,000 | Nil | PLN 6.0m | PLN 2.8m | PLN 105m | PLN 158m | |
| Portugal | Nil | Nil | €650,000 | €600,000 | €6.5m | €6.5m | |
| Romania | RON 300,000 | Nil | RON 1m | RON 1m | RON 10m | RON 20m | |
| Slovakia | €62,500 | Nil | €1m | €1m | €1m | €1m | |
| Slovenia | €60,000 | Nil | €240,000 | €270,000 | €4m | €9m | |
| Spain | Nil | Nil | €400,000 | €400,000 | €400,000 | €400,000 | |
| Sweden | SEK 120,000 | Nil | SEK 15m | SEK 12m | SEK 15m | SEK 12m | |
| Non-EU | |||||||
| Bosnia | BAM 100,000 | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Iceland | ISK 2m | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Montenegro | €35,000 | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Norway | NOK 50,000 | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Russia | RUB 8m (on application) | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Switzerland | CHF 100,000 | CHF 100,000 global income | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Turkey | Nil | Nil | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| UK (Intrastat Northern Ire only) | £90,000 (Apr 2024) | Nil | £500,000 | £250,000 | £24m | £24m | |
VAT Rates
| wdt_ID | Country | Region | European Union | Rate | Rate type | Description |
|---|
