


Germany B2B e-invoicing January 2025 update

German VAT country guide 2023
VAT compliance and reporting rules in Germany Below is summary of the major rules provided under German VAT rules (2005 VAT Act; Umsatzsteuer-Anwendungserlass, UStAE (Application Decree;); and Umsatzsteuer-Durchführungsverordnung, UStDV), plus adoption of EU VAT Directive provisions. Check our country VAT guides for other jurisdictions. VAT Calc’s single platform

Germany seeks EU permission to impose e-invoicing

German annual VAT return filing extension
Umsatzsteuererklärung annual declaration for 2021 period extension The annual German VAT return which provides final summaries of a year’s VAT information is generally due by 31 July. This means 2021’s annual return is due by the end of this month, July 2022. However, more time

Germany exempts virtual in-game land sales
Payments for digital properties within online games outside scope of VAT The German Federal Tax Court, BFH, has ruled that sales or leasing for consideration of virtual buildings or land is outside the scope of VAT. The case covered the use of the US-based game,

German issues 2020/21 VAT handbook
Annual guidance from Ministry of Finance on technical Value Added Tax issues The Federal Ministry of Finance has published the annual VAT book, this one covering 2020/21. Topics covered in this year’s edition include: UStG – German Value Added Tax Act UStDV Value Added Tax rebate

Germany e-invoicing as soon as possible – new government
Coalition new leaders confirm electronic invoice reporting system as soon as possible to fight VAT fraud; backing for EU definitive VAT system; import VAT reforms The new German government coalition of the SPD, Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Green Party have now confirmed on 24

German COVID-19 VAT rate crisis cut worked?
€26bn net gain to the economy during lockdown as standard rate cut from 19% to 16% in 2nd half of 2020 German’s controversial six-month 3% standard VAT rate cut to 16% may have worked contrary to received views by economists and VAT thought leaders. The

Germany highlights slow IOSS adoption
The German Ministry of Finance has highlighted a very low uptake of the new Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme to report sales of imported goods to EU consumers. IOSS is part of the EU e-commerce VAT package reforms introduced on 1 July 2021 to limit