Can't find a tax advisor? Here's how your bookkeeping works without one.
Many tax advisors are fully booked. In Germany you're not required to hire a tax advisor, and with the right setup you can keep track of your numbers yourself.
You don't legally need a tax advisor. For your own business you're allowed to do the bookkeeping, the VAT returns, the annual financial statements and the tax returns yourself. What you need is a setup that takes care of the routine work automatically. I set that up for you and, if you like, take over the ongoing bookkeeping.
Why so many people can't find a tax advisor right now
Many tax advisors are working at their limit and only take on new clients in some cases or not at all. That's what Ihre Vorsorge reports, an initiative of Germany's statutory pension insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung).
So you can wait. Or you take the bookkeeping into your own hands, with a setup that does most of the work for you.
What you can do yourself and who does what
| Task | Can you do it yourself? | What AntiBooks does |
|---|---|---|
| Ongoing bookkeeping | Yes | I record your day-to-day business transactions and set up the software so receipts come in automatically. |
| VAT returns (Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung) | Yes | I prepare your VAT return in BuchhaltungsButler so you only need to check and submit it. |
| Annual financial statements and tax returns | Yes | I prepare the year end in BuchhaltungsButler, with closing entries and the balance sheet as a report. The E-Bilanz, the electronic balance sheet for the tax office, is submitted through the external service eBilanz+. BuchhaltungsButler doesn't produce full annual financial statements or tax returns, so for those you need separate software or a tax advisor. |
Without a tax advisor, your annual tax returns are due on 31 July of the following year. With a tax advisor you get more time.
What the setup looks like
Receipts come in automatically.
Invoices from emails and portals go straight into your bookkeeping.
Your accounts stay up to date.
Bank transactions are pulled in every day and matched to the receipts.
Booking is done on a fixed schedule.
Recurring receipts are booked by fixed rules, and I take care of the rest.
Your numbers stay up to date.
You can see where your business stands at any time, without waiting months for it.
Is this for you?
Good fit if
- you're a freelancer or run a small business and have receipts coming in regularly
- your tax advisor has no capacity left or you can't find one
- you want to keep an eye on your numbers yourself
Not a fit if
- your company needs a statutory audit (medium-sized and large corporations, including a GmbH & Co. KG of that size)
- you're looking for tax advice on how to structure your business
Ongoing bookkeeping at a fixed price from €499 a month. You know the exact price before we start.
Free info callWhat clients say about working with me
“Sandra is the go-to expert for setting up automated accounting in Germany. She was very patient with me, always available for answering my questions. Very supportive. Highly recommend her.”
“She was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her expertise in accounting automation helped us streamline our processes significantly.”
“Sandra is one of a kind in her unique mix of great analytical & entrepreneurial thinking and hands-on mentality.”
Common questions
Do I legally need a tax advisor for my business in Germany?
No. There's no obligation to have a tax advisor in Germany. You can take care of all tax obligations for your own business yourself.
Can I submit the VAT return myself?
Yes. With BuchhaltungsButler you send it to the tax office straight from the software.
Can I prepare the annual financial statements myself?
Yes, for your own business. If your company needs a statutory audit, an auditor also has to check the statements. In BuchhaltungsButler you can make the closing entries and run the balance sheet as a report, and the E-Bilanz goes through the external service eBilanz+. For full annual financial statements you need separate software or a tax advisor, and the year's numbers need to be booked properly.
What does AntiBooks take care of?
I record your day-to-day business transactions and prepare your VAT returns and year-end closing up to the final step. You or a tax advisor of your choice then submit them.
Can we do this in English?
Yes. Calls and emails can be in English. Your bookkeeping follows German rules, and everything for the tax office stays in the usual German format. BuchhaltungsButler itself is in German, but I can send you your reports in English.
How much does it cost?
The ongoing bookkeeping has a fixed price, from €499 a month. You get the exact price after a short info call.
Not sure where to start?
In 15 minutes we look at where your bookkeeping stands and what you can do yourself.