Accountant in Germany

Working with an accountant in Germany is required for many types of businesses, as annual reporting compliance is mandatory for all businesses, irrespective of their size or type.

Our accountants, recommended by the team at our law firm in Germany, provide a set of services that are indispensable for companies in all business fields. We offer our services throughout Germany and we work with both local and foreign companies that have opened branches or subsidiaries in the country.

Accounting services in Germany

The main types of services offered by our team of accountants in Germany include the following:

• Bookkeeping: keeping proper records of all the financial accounts by using accounting software;

• Tax accounting: the thorough management of all of the taxes that are payable by the business;

• Financial statements: drawing up the mandatory annual financial statements, such as the cash flow statement or the balance sheet;

• Payroll: handling the financial records of the employee’s salary, deductions, or bonuses.

Other services can also include those that are related to accounts payable (bill organization and payment processing) as well as accounts receivable (for ensuring the fast processing of invoices).

Companies will generally choose to outsource these services and entrust a team of experts, such as our accountants in Germany, while they handle the actual business activities. By working with a qualified team, investors can rest assured that their financial statements are prepared according to law and that the business maintains the mandatory level of transparency when it comes to its activities.

Our team of lawyers in Germany can provide adequate legal counseling on the laws that govern the accounting principles applicable in the country, should investors require more details on this.

Our tax attorneys can also offer assistance on certain tax minimization strategies that can be suitable for the business, as well as the available sector-specific incentives, if applicable.

General accounting requirements for German companies

Companies in Germany are required to comply with certain tax, accounting, and reporting procedures.  The annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the German GAAP and the International Financial Reporting Standards are also used in certain cases. Our team of lawyers in Germany lists some of the main issues to take into consideration below:

• Corporate taxation: the effective corporate income tax rate in Germany is between 30 and 33% and it includes a solidarity surcharge;

• Tax year: this has a maximum period of 12 months and in some cases, it can be shorter;

• Tax returns: are filed electronically in most cases before the 21 July the tear following the one for which the assessment is made;

• Quarterly tax payments: these advance corporate tax payments are handled in March, June, September, and December;

• Penalties: can be imposed for late filing or for the late payment of the taxes that were assessed.

The work of an accountant in Germany is important in this context as he can make sure that the company complies with the filing and payment requirements and that it avoids the possible penalties.

The tax experts at our law firm in Germany recommend working with a certified accountant and auditor.

Accountants in Germany

The Public Accountant Act and its amendments regulate the accountant profession in Germany. These sets fort the professional duties as well as the establishment of the Chamber of Public Accountants. For those interested in the specifics of this Act, our team of attorneys in Germany can provide more details.

An accountant in Germany needs to be licensed and in order for this to be possible, he or she will need to complete a university degree and course that encompasses the disciplines that are subject to the Examination Regulation. A future accountant or auditor is then required to complete three years of practical experience, and at least two years in the audit practice. Once this stage is finished, they are subject to subsequent examinations and after this, they receive a certificate issued by the Chamber.

According to statistics released by the Chamber of Public Accountants, there were 14,568 auditors at the beginning of the year. Other statistics for the beginning of 2020 reveal the following:

• there were 2,377 sworn accountants

• 2,982 were auditing societies

• most of the sworn accountants registered with the Chamber have a University business degree, 910 individuals.

Accountants in Germany provide much-needed services for companies of all sizes and across all business fields.

Please reach out to our law firm in Germany for more information about the accounting and auditing services we provide for businesses.