{"id":12143,"date":"2025-03-04T16:29:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T16:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/?p=12143"},"modified":"2025-03-11T13:47:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T13:47:31","slug":"wie-bekomme-ich-eine-umsatzsteuer-id-als-auslaendisches-unternehmen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wie-bekomme-ich-eine-umsatzsteuer-id-als-auslaendisches-unternehmen\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I get a VAT ID as a foreign company?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many cases, foreign companies that are economically active in Germany require a Value added tax identification number (VAT ID)<\/strong>. This number is for intra-Community supplies and services within the EU<\/strong> and facilitates tax transactions.<\/p>\n

Here you can find out Step by step<\/strong>how a foreign company can obtain a VAT number in Germany<\/strong> can apply for.<\/p>\n

1. when does a foreign company need a VAT ID?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A foreign company requires a German sales tax ID<\/strong>when it:<\/p>\n

–<\/span>sold goods or services to customers in Germany<\/strong> (B2B or B2C)
carries out intra-Community deliveries in the EU<\/strong> (e.g. export\/import with other EU countries)
–<\/span>warehousing or dropshipping in Germany<\/strong> (e.g. Amazon FBA)
–<\/span>A permanent establishment or tax registration in Germany has<\/strong>
–<\/span>Participates in trade fairs or events in Germany and generates sales there<\/strong><\/p>\n

Important:<\/strong> If the company only does business in Germany occasionally, a Tax registration without a permanent establishment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2 Where do I apply for a VAT ID?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Competent authority:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The Value added tax identification number (VAT ID)<\/strong> will be issued by Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt)<\/strong> awarded.<\/li>\n
  • If the company in Germany registered for tax purposes<\/strong> the application is made via the responsible tax office<\/strong> (according to company headquarters or place of business in Germany).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    3. step-by-step guide: How to apply for the VAT ID no.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Step 1: Tax registration in Germany<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    A foreign company must first register for sales tax<\/strong>to obtain a VAT ID number.<\/p>\n

    -If the company has a Establishment in Germany<\/strong> has \u2192 Registration with the local tax office<\/strong>
    -If the company does not have a permanent establishment, but generates taxable sales<\/strong> \u2192 Responsible tax office for the foreign business (e.g. Hannover-Nord tax office)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Documents required for registration:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Application form for tax registration (questionnaire for tax registration for foreign companies)<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Founding documents and proof of business activity<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Proof of identity or extract from the commercial register of the company<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Proof of planned business activities in Germany (e.g. contracts, invoices, storage contracts)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Tip:<\/strong> If the company in Germany only provides services subject to VAT<\/strong>the tax registration can be completed with a Fiscal representative<\/strong> be facilitated.<\/p>\n

      Step 2: Applying for the VAT ID at the BZSt<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      After the company was registered with the tax office recognized for tax purposes<\/strong> the VAT ID number directly at the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt)<\/strong> can be applied for.<\/p>\n

      Application options:<\/strong>
      -Online application via the ELSTER portal<\/strong>
      -Written application by post to the BZSt<\/strong>
      –<\/span>Via a tax advisor or fiscal representative<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Required information:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Tax number of the company<\/strong> (after tax registration in Germany)<\/li>\n
      • Name and address of the company<\/strong><\/li>\n
      • Indication of the economic activity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Processing time:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • The allocation of the VAT ID number normally takes 2-6 weeks<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        • If additional tests are required, it may take longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Tip:<\/strong> If the company needs to act quickly, a tax consultant can speed up the process.<\/p>\n

          4. how do I check whether the VAT ID number is valid?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

          If the company has already received a VAT ID number or would like to check whether a number is valid, this can be done via the EU-VIES system (VAT Information Exchange System)<\/strong> take place.<\/p>\n

          Checking the VAT ID no.:<\/strong>
          -Online on the VIES website<\/strong> of the EU Commission
          -Inquiry at the Federal Central Tax Office<\/p>\n

          Tip:<\/strong> If there are problems with validation, the company should contact the tax office.<\/p>\n

          5. tax obligations after receipt of the VAT number<\/strong><\/h2>\n

          After receiving the VAT ID number, the company must submit regular VAT returns<\/strong>. These include:<\/p>\n

          -Monthly or quarterly advance VAT returns
          \n<\/strong>-Summary declaration (ZM) for EU trade<\/strong>
          -Annual sales tax return<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Tip:<\/strong> If the company has a Reverse charge regulation<\/strong> If the service provider can use the German VAT system, there is often no need to pay German VAT, as the recipient of the service pays the tax.<\/p>\n

          6. common mistakes and how to avoid them<\/strong><\/h2>\n

          Incorrect or incomplete information during registration<\/strong> \u2192 Fill in all documents correctly<\/strong>
          Waiting too long with the application<\/strong> \u2192 Register early to avoid delays<\/strong>
          Forgetting to submit advance VAT returns<\/strong> \u2192 Regular reporting is mandatory, even if no turnover was generated<\/strong>
          Missing or invalid VAT ID number for EU transactions<\/strong> \u2192 Check regularly via the VIES system<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Ausl\u00e4ndische Unternehmen, die in Deutschland wirtschaftlich t\u00e4tig sind, ben\u00f6tigen in vielen F\u00e4llen eine Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer (USt-IdNr.). Diese Nummer ist f\u00fcr innergemeinschaftliche Lieferungen und Dienstleistungen innerhalb der EU erforderlich und erleichtert steuerliche […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,175],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-firmengruendung-investition-in-deutschland","category-wie-bekomme-ich-eine-umsatzsteuer-id-als-auslaendisches-unternehmen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12143"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12143\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12144,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12143\/revisions\/12144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bosporus24.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}