How to Fill Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung: A Line by Line English Guide (2020 Edition)
Do you want to register yourself as a freelancer in Germany? Here is a line by line ‘how to fill Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung’ guide in English (2020 update).
In one of my earlier posts, I described the step by step procedure for registering yourself as a freelancer/self-employed entity in Germany. One of the very crucial elements and hardest steps of that procedure is to fill out the form for the tax declaration. AKA the form from hell ;).
It is called the Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung.
When I was setting myself up as a freelancer in Germany, it took a very long time and lots of effort to find the right information. It was also the ultimate test of German language skills — none of my german language courses had prepared me for this.
So to help other expat freelancers in Germany, I have created a line by line English guide for filling Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung.
But first, let’s have a quick overview of this notorious form.
This post was originally published on my expat website.
1. What is Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung?
Anyone intending to take up self-employment in Germany needs to fill in and submit this form to their local Finanzamt. This form provides your local tax authority with your personal and professional information for tax purposes.
2. Why do you need to fill Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung?
This is an essential step for completing your tax status and receive the relevant tax numbers for your business in Germany. Remember, you cannot get paid in Germany without a valid invoice with a tax number.
Based on the information you provide in this form, Finanzamt will do the following:
- Confirm your freelancer or trader status
- Assign you a tax number for your invoices
- Provide you with a VAT ID (if applicable)
- Set up an automated payment system for VAT charge or refunds, tax payments or refunds etc. (if applicable)
You May Be Interested in: How to create German VAT Invoices (Correctly!) + FREE VAT Invoice Templates
3. Where can you get Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung
You can find a PDF copy of this form online from various sources. Here are three option you can download or fill up this form online.
3.1. Find the form on Google
Google Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung. Generally, the first result will lead you to the right sources i.e. the website of Bundesministerium der Finanzen or a Finanzamt.
3.2. Get it from the website of your local Finanzamt
Your local Finanzamt will also have this form on their website.
You can search for your responsible Finanzamt by using search terms ‘your city’ + Finanzamt. Usually, the first search result will be correct.
In the case of big cities, you may see multiple Finanzamt offices like ‘Finanzamt Nürnberg-Süd’, ‘Finanzamt Nürnberg-Nord’ and ‘Zentralfinanzamt Nürnberg’.
In such cases, just type in ‘your district + ‘zuständiges Finanzamt’. Sometimes typing in with your postcode can also lead you in the right direction.
3.3. Access it through the website of Bundesministerium der Finanzen
Go to the website of Bundesministerium der Finanzen. The form that you need is the top one on the list titled;
001 — Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung / Aufnahme einer gewerblichen, selbständigen (freiberuflichen) oder land- und forstwirtschaftlichen Tätigkeit oder Beteiligung an einer Personengesellschaft/ -gemeinschaft (Formular-ID: 034250)
You may either download it — by clicking on the PDF icon. Or you can also fill the form online by clicking on the text.
4. What do you need for filling Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung
As mentioned above, you can either download the form or fill it up online on the website of Bundesministerium der Finanzen.
Note that, each session is valid for 45 minutes only. If you take longer than this, the form will refresh and you will lose all your data.
If you use this option, then I would recommend to first fill up all values in a paper sheet, and then add in your online form. Once filled, you can download the form and print it out.
In summary, to fill this form completely, you should have some basic details handy on your desk.
- Your German tax ID number or Identifikationsnummer (again, not tax number or Steuernummer)
- Your personal details
- Your bank details
- An exact description of your future self-employment activity
- Financial details of your future self-employment activity
5. Understanding the Sections in Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung
Before you fill in the lines, it is important to understand what exact information you are adding in this form.
There are eight sections in this form. I have translated them in English along with a brief explanation of what they are.
1. Allgemeine Angaben- General information about you and your work
1.1 Steuerpflichtige(r)/Beteiligte(r) — Your Last and First Name
1.2 Ehegatte/Ehegattin/eingetragene(r) Lebenspartner(in)- Your Spouse/wife/registered civil partner
1.3 Kommunikationsverbindungen- Your Communication Details
1.4 Art der Tätigkeit (genaue Bezeichnung des Gewerbezweiges)- Exact name of your intended profession. Describe it as precisely as possible. This description will help your caseworker determine whether you fit in as a freelancer (freiberufler) or a trader (Gewerber). An example of a description will be ‘Online market berater(in).
1.5 Bankverbindung(en) für Steuererstattungen/SEPA-Lastschriftverfahren- Bank Account(s) for Tax Refunds/SEPA Direct Debit. Here you can add one bank account for ALL tax-related transactions. You can also use separate accounts for business-related or personal transactions.
1.6 Steuerliche Beratung- Add the details of your Tax advisor (if you have one).
1.7 Empfangsbevollmächtigte(r) für alle Steuerarten- Here you will confirm if your tax advisor in subsection 1.6 has power of attorney and can file tax documents on behalf of you.
1.8 Bisherige persönliche Verhältnisse- Previous address if you changed address within the last 12 months.
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2. Angaben zur gewerblichen, selbständigen (freiberuflichen) oder land- und forstwirtschaftlichen Tätigkeit- In this section, you will add particulars of commercial, self-employed (freelance) or agricultural and forestry activity
2.1 Anschrift des Unternehmens- Address of your company. If you are a solo freelancer, then you can use your name plus your service. For example, my official business is name is Yamini Gautam Online Marketing. Another example could be John Connor Photography
2.2 Beginn der Tätigkeit (inklusiveVorbereitungshandlungen)- Write down the start of your work (including preparatory actions)
2.3 Betriebsstätten- Write down your company branches sites if you have any. This option probably does not apply to you if you are a freelancer.
2.4 Handelsregistereintragung- Record of the Commercial Registration — again, add only if applicable.
2.5 Gründungsform (Bitte ggf. die entsprechenden Verträge beifügen!)- Form of incorporation (Please enclose the corresponding contracts if necessary!)
2.6 Bisherige betriebliche Verhältnisse- Describe your past working situation of the last five years. If you have had any business, self-employment or freelanced or an agricultural and forestry activity then add the details here.
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3. Angaben zur Festsetzung der Vorauszahlungen (Einkommensteuer, Gewerbesteuer)- In this section, you will add information on the determination of advance payments (income tax, trade tax)
3.1 Voraussichtliche Einkünfte aus- Here you can add your anticipated income from the following. If you are a freelancer then only Self-employment activities may apply to you.
Land- und Forstwirtschaft- Agriculture and forestry
Gewerbebetrieb- Business
Selbständiger Arbeit- Self-employment activities
Nichtselbständiger Arbeit- Paid work
Kapitalvermögen- Kapitalvermögen
Vermietung und Verpachtung- Renting and leasing
Sonstigen Einkünften (z. B. Renten)- Other income (e.g. pensions)
3.2 Voraussichtliche Höhe der- Add the estimated amount of the
Sonderausgaben- Special business expenses
Steuerabzugsbeträge- Tax deductions
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4. Angaben zur Gewinnermittlung — Add Information about how you will report your income to Finanzamt.
Gewinnermittlungsart- Here you can describe the method of income reporting. You have a few options, but most like you can checkbox for an ‘income statement’ or a balance sheet.
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5. Freistellungsbescheinigung gemäß § 48b Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG)- Exemption certificate according to § 48b of the German Income Tax Act (EStG)
This section is for those who want to apply for a certificate of exemption from a tax deduction for construction services. This part does not apply to most freelancers.
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6. Angaben zur Anmeldung und Abführung der Lohnsteuer- Information on the registration and payment of Wage tax
This section is relevant for those who have employees. If you do not have any employees then leave out this section.
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7. Angaben zur Anmeldung und Abführung der Umsatzsteuer- In this section you will add information for the registration and payment of VAT tax.
You will also add your estimated total revenue, whether or not you want to opt-in Kleinunternehmerregelung, and other fields.
There is also an option to establish a Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS). If you sell digital content (software, ebooks, apps) or digital services (web hosting, referrals, software as a service) to customers in other EU countries, you will opt for a Mini-One-Stop-Shop.
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8. Angaben zur Beteiligung an einer Personengesellschaft/-gemeinschaft- This section is relevant to those who are establishing a partnership or a joint venture.
Read More Posts About: Freelance in Germany as an Expat
6. Line by Line English Guide for Filling up Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung
Please note that even though this line by line Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung guide is in English, you should fill this form in German. If you do not have sufficient German skills, get help from an official translator to formulate your answers.
Here’s how you can use this guide:
Tip One
After Downloading the PDF, you will find a number of yellow boxes called ‘Notes’. There is a note for each line or a group of lines. Click on any yellow box to open the guide. You will see the description and required action for that line.
Tip Two
To close the box, simply click on another yellow box or anywhere else.
Tip Three
My recommendation would be to use a different copy of Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung. This PDF guide (as it is not editable). You can also use the online form mentioned in subsection 3.3 and aim to fill this form within 45 minutes.
Now without further ado…download your 2020 updated English guide to Fragebogen zur Steuerlichen Erfassung.
