Freelancing in Germany can be tough - between finding clients, doing the work, and learning the language, you also have to face the German tax system. 😅 And as if understanding when and how to file your taxes wasn’t enough, Germany gives you up to four different tax numbers. Here’s how to make sense of them 👇
Here is how to read/understand them:
The Persönliche identifikationsnummer is your personal tax number. You use this number for your yearly income tax (as a tax payer in Germany).
The Steuernummer is your business tax number. You use it on your sales invoices.
The VAT-ID (DExxxx) is your European-format business tax number. You need to use it on your sales invoices when selling services to companies located in other European countries, or when purchasing from European suppliers if you are subject to VAT.
The Wirtschafts-ID (business identification number) is a unique identifier for all economically active individuals and entities in Germany. It will help reduce bureaucracy by streamlining communication between authorities in the future.
This 11-digit number is your personal ID as a taxpayer in Germany.
You’ll need it when filing your yearly income tax return.
You should have received a letter from the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) with your tax ID when you registered in Germany.
You’ll also find it on your income tax assessments or payslips.
No stress - you can easily request it again through the online form on the BZSt website (this is the website of the national tax office).
This is your business tax number - the one you use on your sales invoices as a self-employed person.
You’ll receive it by mail once you register your business with the Finanzamt (local tax office).
It has 10 or 11 digits, for example: 079/123/12347.
The number format depends on your Bundesland (federal state).
If you move to another state (e.g. from Hamburg to Berlin), you’ll get a new Steuernummer, since a different tax office will handle your file.
👉 Tip: You can find your responsible tax office using the search function on the BZSt website.
This optional number is your European-format business tax ID - it starts with DE, like DE123456789.
You sell services to clients in other EU countries.
You buy goods or services from European suppliers and are subject to VAT.
Since November 2024, the Business Identification Number (W-IdNr.) is being gradually introduced. It is the central identification feature for all economically active individuals in Germany, including the self-employed.
The W-IdNr. does not replace any of the existing tax numbers, but complements them as an identification number in tax and administrative processes. It stays with you for your entire “business life.”
It is designed to make tax and administrative processes simpler and more digital. In the long run, the W-IdNr. will help reduce bureaucracy by enabling more efficient communication between authorities.
Through the "Once-Only Principle," certain information only needs to be provided once, and authorities can automatically use it in future processes. This makes it easier for you to fulfil your tax obligations and improves communication with the tax authorities.
All economically active individuals, including the self-employed, freelancers, and businesses, will automatically receive a W-IdNr.
If you already have a VAT-ID (USt-IdNr.), it will be used as your W-IdNr.
If not, your W-IdNr. will be assigned to you through your Elster user account. You can find it in your tax documents or receive it directly via Elster.
📊 Type | 🇩🇪 German Name | 💡 Use It For | 🔢 Format |
🪪 Personal Tax Number | Persönliche Identifikationsnummer | Yearly income tax return | 11 digits |
💼 Business Tax Number | Steuernummer | Your sales invoices | 10–11 digits (e.g. 079/123/12347) |
🌍 VAT-ID | Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer | EU-wide sales & purchases | DE + 9 digits |
🏢 Business ID | Wirtschafts ID | Future tax and administrative processes | DE + 9 digits |
With our tool, you can easily find where each tax number goes on your invoices - no confusion, no stress. 💪
💡 Want to find out more? In our free webinar, Be your own boss, we explain step by step how to get started as a self-employed person in Germany – including registration, tax obligations and a live Q&A session. Register here!
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Author - Sophia Merzbach
Sophia has been a key member of the Accountable team for many years, bringing a unique blend of journalistic precision and in-depth tax expertise to her work.
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