Practical guides | Accountable

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

Abolition of the solidarity surcharge: This is how much money you will save in 2021

In Germany, every taxpayer must pay a solidarity surcharge called Solidaritätszuschlag, or Soli. But as ...

How to change your business address in Germany

Whether you’re moving house or moving to a new business address, the last thing you ...

2021: New rules and other changes for freelancers in Germany

No other year brought about as many changes for freelancers as 2020. Some were planned, and many ...

These 7 jobs are perfect for a side gig!

So, you want to start a side hustle? Good for you! Taking on a second job ...

Want to start a second line of freelance work? Here’s what you need to know

It’s quite common these days to have a series of different careers throughout your life, ...

What happens when you change address in Germany as a freelancer?

There are a few steps you need to take when moving house in Germany. While everyone ...

Clients overseas? Here’s what you need to know

As a freelancer living in Germany, you should be prepared to primarily service German-based clients through ...

I’m a foreigner living in Germany, how can I become a freelancer?

Freelance work is more popular than ever, and with the great amount of flexibility that comes ...

Freelancing in Germany: Here’s what you need to know about tax numbers

Freelancing in Germany can be tough. Between working, acquiring new clients, and learning the language, you ...

How to create the perfect invoice in Germany

So you’ve got your first client, you’ve delivered your first project, and you’re ...

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

2020 has brought about many changes and with a lot of companies having to close their offices, ...

What is the difference between Vorsteuer, Umsatzsteuer and Mehrwertsteuer?

For freelancers, the subject of taxes is typically a lot more involved than it is for ...

Want to start a side hustle in addition to your full time job? Here’s what you need to know.

When it comes to freelancing in Germany, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. ...

The glossary of all the words you need to know as a freelancer in Germany

While it may be possible to get by living and working in Germany without having fluency ...

Freelancing in Germany? Put these dates in your calendar!

While being self-employed comes with a tonne of perks like the flexibility to work anywhere, manage ...

7 mistakes to avoid when starting out as a Freiberufler in Berlin

Working as a Freiberufler – or freelancer – in Berlin means diving head-first into the creative capital. But ...

When is a freelancer a Kleinunternehmer?

The Kleinunternehmer, or small business designation, is often a blessing for many freelancers, especially at the ...

What should be included on all incoming invoices?

Managing incoming invoices is part of everyday life for many self-employed people and is an important ...

How & when: Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung for freelancers 2020

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

Managing your taxes as a freelancer in Germany

From registering as a freelancer to charging VAT, saving up your tax payments and deducting expenses, ...

Registering as self-employed in Germany: Freelancer or tradesperson (Freiberufler or Gewerbetreibender)?

In Germany, becoming self-employed isn’t only about having a great idea for your new venture. ...

Which VAT rate should I charge my German clients?

In Germany, there are two different VAT rates: 19% is the general rule, but there’s also ...

7 handy tax deductions for freelancers in Germany

Self-employed workers in Germany are entitled to deduct a range of business expenses when it comes ...

5 things you need to know as a freelancer concerning the VAT reduction in July 2020

Corona has serious economic consequences for many people. To support the economy the German government was ...

How does VAT work for clients outside Germany?

Here is how to get your invoices for clients in the EU, and further afield, in ...

How to file your German VAT return?

Submitting your VAT return to the Finanzamt doesn’t need to be a headache. Here we ...

How to fill out the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung – tax registration as a freelancer in Germany

In order to register your freelance business in Germany, you will need to fill out a ...

The secret tips for expats moving to Germany

Ina Pilkington founded Expats In Wonderland to help others make Berlin their home. Besides giving an ...

The most important questions about the Corona grant for freelancers

You got the Corona grant and now you’re thinking about what that means for you? ...

Outstanding invoices? These are your options as a freelancer in Germany.

You work, provide a service or sell goods. After that, you issue a proper invoice. It’...

Gewinnermittlung (or net determination letter) for freelance visa renewals in Germany

Your profit and loss statement is used to document your income and expenses for a specific ...

The top 9 tax tips for the self-employed – our guide for freelancers in Germany

As part of the German launch of Accountable, we have given a number of workshops and ...

We are here to help

What happens if you miss a VAT deadline?