Getting registered as a freelancer in Germany Thread poster: MonikaB
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MonikaB 
Germany
Local time: 03:09
English to German
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Hi all,
Can anybody tell me how long it takes to get registered as a freelancer in Germany?
As far as I understood (please correct me if I am wrong) when you go to register with the Finanzamt, they will send you a form to fill in and then assign you a tax ID, and you need that to apply for a VAT ID, which you need if you want to work for clients outside Germany.
Can you start working as a freelancer as soon as you have started the registration procedure, or do you have t... See more Hi all,
Can anybody tell me how long it takes to get registered as a freelancer in Germany?
As far as I understood (please correct me if I am wrong) when you go to register with the Finanzamt, they will send you a form to fill in and then assign you a tax ID, and you need that to apply for a VAT ID, which you need if you want to work for clients outside Germany.
Can you start working as a freelancer as soon as you have started the registration procedure, or do you have to wait till it's all finished and you got these numbers, especially for working for clients outside Germany? (And how long does it take to get them?)
I am currently living and working in the Netherlands and will move back to Germany at the end of the year to go freelance. Now my current Dutch employer is already asking me to do work for him in January - would that be a problem, considering I can only start the registration process when I am back in Germany?
TIA
Monika ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:09
German to English
+ ...
| Getting registered as a freelancer in Germany | Dec 12, 2004 |
Monika,
The process of registration with the FA is likely to be quick and painless. From my experience, the FA is the most efficient of the public services: it seems the government puts the best civil servants where they can do most good (collecting taxes).
You can start working immediately. You just won't be able to write any invoices until you have your tax ID, because that needs to be quoted on them. But I wouldn't expect to have to wait more than a week or two for t... See more Monika,
The process of registration with the FA is likely to be quick and painless. From my experience, the FA is the most efficient of the public services: it seems the government puts the best civil servants where they can do most good (collecting taxes).
You can start working immediately. You just won't be able to write any invoices until you have your tax ID, because that needs to be quoted on them. But I wouldn't expect to have to wait more than a week or two for the tax ID anyway.
The VAT ID is even easier: one phone call to Saarlouis was all I needed to do, admittedly ten years ago now.
You will have other things to get sorted out, e.g. various insurances, but nothing that should stop you working.
Marc ▲ Collapse
| | | | Sybille Brückner
Germany
Local time: 03:09
Member (2003)
English to German
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Just done the same, called to Saarlouis and got a VAT ID during the phone call, which will be confirmed in wirting the next day.
Sybille
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After I completed and sent in the form (here in Bavaria "Fragebogen für Gewerbeanmeldung-Anmeldung einer freiberuflichen Tätigkeit"), my Finanzamt needed only 5 days to tell me my tax number.
MonikaB wrote:
... they will send you a form to fill in and then assign you a tax ID, and you need that to apply for a VAT ID, which you need if you want to work for clients outside Germany.
Monika
Are you sure you will need a VAT ID? I don't know if you have already searched other postings in the German forum, where you can find pretty much about VAT and Kleinunternehmer (17.500 €/50.000 €/ year) and the pros and cons of each side.
Michaela
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Marc P (X)
Local time: 03:09
German to English
+ ...
Michaela Müller wrote:
Are you sure you will need a VAT ID?
You need a VAT ID only if
a) you have registered for VAT and
b) you have customers outside Germany (in fact, probably only in other EU countries).
Unless both of these criteria apply, you don't need a VAT ID.
Marc
| | | | MonikaB
Germany
Local time: 03:09
English to German
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Thank you all for your advice!
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