Practical guides | Accountable

How to change from Kleinunternehmer to subject to VAT

You are registered as a Kleinunternehmer (small business owner) but your business is doing very well ...

Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung – VAT calculation

“In total, will you pay VAT to the Finanzamt this year or receive a refund?” That’...

All about the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung

If you want to go freelance, you can’t avoid the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung (tax ...

Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung: Calculate your profit as a freelancer

There is no way around the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung (tax registration questionnaire) when you become ...

What is the Grundfreibetrag (basic tax-free allowance) for the income tax?

It is compulsory to submit an Einkommensteuererklärung (income tax) if you are registered as self-employed. ...

Checklist: This is what you need to know for your tax return

You have until the end of July to file your tax return. That would seem like ...

Selling on Etsy and taxes: All you have to know

Etsy, the American e-commerce online platform was founded in 2005 and since then has established itself on ...

5 things you didn’t know you could claim on tax

If you’re self-employed, you probably have quite a few expenses. Fortunately, you can deduct a ...

5 common mistakes when submitting your tax return

Every new financial year brings about the joy of submitting your annual tax return declaring last ...

Income tax for freelancers – how much tax do I have to pay in Germany?

Working as a self-employed professional has many advantages: You are your own boss and you can ...

Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) and Finanzamt: What’s the difference?

Getting started as a freelancer in Germany can be quite complicated – and even more so if ...

Here’s all you need to know about hiring people as a freelancer

Many self-employed people reach a point where they need support – and want to hire their own ...

Freelancing as a software developer – Here’s how it works

Software developers are in great demand these days. So it’s no wonder that many developers ...

Freelancing as a graphic designer – Here’s how it works

Graphic design is a popular way to start your own business. If you are also thinking ...

Freelancing as a coach – Here’s how it works

Whether a business or lifestyle coach, there are many ways to start your own business as ...

Registering a trade business? Then you might need a special permit

If you want to start your own trade business, you may need a special permit for ...

Kleinunternehmer Guide: Everything you need to know about the small business regulation

The Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation) can make it a lot easier for you to start your ...

More than health insurance for freelancers: KSK (Künstlersozialkasse)

Especially at the beginning of your self-employment, you are faced with a big number of decisions ...

Step by step guide – profit and loss statement in Germany

Many freelancers, Gewerbetreibende (tradespeople) and Kleinunternehmer (small business owners) can use the simple form of bookkeeping ...

Everything you need to know about invoices

Invoicing is part of every self-employed person’s daily routine – and yet this part of accounting ...

What it’s like to be a tax advisor in Germany

Accountable makes all kinds of tax chores so much easier. But when you do get stuck, ...

Self-employed? How to file your income tax in 9 steps

Once a year every self-employed professional in Germany has to submit their income tax return. But ...

How to submit your Einnahmeüberschussrechnung in Germany

If you are working for yourself, you have to keep a precise record of how much ...

Kleinunternehmer: Which kind of taxes do I have to pay?

Both, Gewerbetreibende (tradespersons) and Freiberufler (freelancers) can save time and money if their income is kept ...

Thinking about becoming self-employed Part 2: Taxes, taxes, taxes

In the first part of our series about starting the self-employment journey, we already answered some ...

Thinking about becoming Self-employed Part 1: Here is all you need to know before!

Self-employment is a very desirable career path—but it also comes with a lot of responsibility, ...

Why you need a separate banking account as freelancer

Are you in the process of starting your freelance career in Germany? Congratulations! Exciting times are ...

Everything you need to know about Elster

If you have looked into submitting your tax declaration in Germany before, then you probably ran ...

The best apps for freelancers

Being self-employed usually means that you have several jobs: You have to take care of your ...

Working from home: This is what you can claim on tax

If your home is the hub of your whole professional activity, expenses incurred maintaining an office ...

How to settle in Berlin, Bastien Allibert?

Bastien Allibert is the founder of the Blog settle-in-berlin.com, which helps anybody coming to Germany ...

Data security at Accountable

‘How do you make sure my data is save?’, ‘What measures do you take to make ...

How we make sure your tax return is correct

We’re often asked, “How can you be sure the app calculates my tax return correctly?” ...

Tax changes for 2022

Every year there are new changes in the tax law and 2022 is no excemption. Here, you ...

Everything you need to know about false self-employment

One of the biggest dangers for freelancers in Germany is possibly being guilty of false self-employment. ...

Step by step guide – income tax return with Accountable

Self-employed professionals are obliged to submit their income tax once a year to the Finanzamt. There ...

Speaking Finanzamt: Explaining the most common letters you’ll get from the German tax office

Do you know that feeling? You are checking your mailbox, notice a letter from the tax ...

Understanding the Finanzamt – Change of VAT period letter

The Finanzamt sent you a letter and you’re not sure what to do now? No ...

The ultimate guide on how to start freelancing in Germany as an expat

Have you been dreaming about starting your freelance career in Germany but simply didn’t know ...

A guide to insurance for freelancers in Germany

A very important aspect to setting up as a freelancer in Germany is making sure you’...

Understanding the Finanzamt – The Istversteuerung letter

You received a complicated letter written in German by the Finanzamt? No worries, after you registered ...

Understanding the Finanzamt – The prepayment letter

After you registered as self-employed in Germany, you will get several letters by the Finanzamt. One ...

Understanding the Finanzamt – The Steuernummer letter

You’ve got mail – by the Finanzamt!? No worries, after you registered as self-employed with the “...

What is the Reverse Charge procedure and how does it apply to you?

Working with international clients can be tricky, depending on where exactly they’re located, whether there’...

Tax return for Kleinunternehmer

‘Kleinunternehmer’ (small business owners) must all submit a tax return. As a Kleinunternehmer, you are exempt ...

This is how you claim the Home Office allowance

Due to the COVID crisis lots of people were suddenly required to work from home and ...

All about taxes for Amazon FBA Sellers

You plan on becoming an Amazon FBA Seller? Then it’s very important to know how ...

Being self-employed: When should I start a GmbH?

If you plan on becoming self-employed, sooner or later you will need to choose the right ...

How & when: Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung for freelancers 2021

As if the annual VAT return wasn’t enough, freelancers also have to submit regular VAT ...

What happens if you miss a VAT deadline?

Ah, deadlines. For freelancers, a deadline is either your best friend or a fearsome foe. A ...

How to claim business expenses on tax from before you were a registered freelancer

Starting your freelance career is not something you decide over night. A lot of thinking, planning, ...

VAT return: What is the Vorauszahlungssoll?

You need to submit your first VAT this year but have no idea what the so ...

This is how you fill in the ‘Anlage Corona-Hilfen’ in your tax return

Did you receive Corona relief money for the tax year of 2020? As Freiberufler (freelancer) or Gewerbetreibender (...

Advance VAT return explained – and made easier!

If you’ve already started freelancing in Germany, you’ll probably have come across one of ...

How much money should I set aside for taxes as a self-employed person

Freelancing in Germany is no simple feat. In addition to the financial risks you take on ...

Tax tips for influencers: The 6 most common questions answered

The German tax law has a reputation for being complex, particularly for freelancers who may be ...

Daniel Jach: My tips and tools for being self-employed

Hi Daniel, please introduce yourself and tell us why you became a freelancer. Hi, I’m ...

How to avoid false self-employment (“Scheinselbstständigkeit”) in Germany

One of the things people may warn you about when you first start freelancing in Germany ...

Self-employed driver for Amazon Flex – This is what you should know

Amazon is offering a private delivery service in Germany called Amazon Flex. As a delivery driver ...

This is what you can deduct from your tax as a part-time self-employed professional

There are many different types of self-employment. For example, you can start as a freelancer alongside ...

Invoicing your clients on Upwork: This is how it works

Upwork is a popular platform for freelancers who are looking for new clients and projects to ...

Health insurance for self-employed & Kleinunternehmer

With each guide to freelancing and taxes in Germany, we try to make the complex simple; ...

How does German pension insurance work (and how is it relevant to freelancers)?

As a freelancer, it’s up to you to ensure you have the funds and savings ...

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What is the Kleinunternehmer limit?