Fiscal subject related
The tax identification number given by the tax office where the business is registered is known as the Steuernummer. It is used for all correspondence, audits, and day-to-day operations with the tax authorities, as well as in VAT returns. The VIES number, also known as the VAT ID number or USt-IdNr, is used for all intracommunity transactions. A steuernummer application must be made by a foreign company at the relevant tax office (in Germany, depending on the German Federal State where the company is established, you are allocated a specific tax office). After receiving the steuernummer, a second application must be submitted to the Federal Tax Office in order to obtain the VAT identification number (USt-IdNr). VIES optionally provides a unique reference number that can be used to prove to a tax authority that a particular VAT number was confirmed at the time of purchase.
Other news from Germany
VIDA regulation adopted—what does that mean for business?
The EU adopted the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package on March 11, 2025, introducing major changes to the VAT system starting January 1, 2027. Key reforms include mandatory digital VAT reporting by 2030, new VAT collection rules for online platforms, and expanded One-Stop Shop (OSS) registration to simplify cross-border compliance. Additional measures, such as mandatory e-invoicing, phasing out... Read more
New document was uploaded: S4F backoffice patch
S4F backoffice patch is intended for users who have already installed S4F backoffice and are intended to update existing installations to latest version. To do so apply only patches that are marked with version number that is newer than your currently installed instance of backoffice. Read more
Slovenia: EU Targets Unsafe E-Commerce Imports with New Measures
The European Commission is tightening regulations on e-commerce imports to address the surge of unsafe and counterfeit goods, particularly from China, by reforming customs rules and increasing product safety checks. Key measures include removing the duty exemption for low-value parcels, introducing a potential customs fee, establishing priority control areas, and launching an EU-wide product safet... Read more
New document was uploaded: S4F backoffice patch
S4F backoffice patch is intended for users who have already installed S4F backoffice and are intended to update existing installations to latest version. To do so apply only patches that are marked with version number that is newer than your currently installed instance of backoffice. Read more
Germany's E-commerce Action Plan is launched.

Germany has launched an e-commerce action plan to strengthen market surveillance, enforce platform obligations, and enhance consumer and environmental protections. The plan ensures that all online merchants, whether from the EU or third countries, comply with product safety, consumer rights, and fair competition rules, aligning with the European Digital Services Act (DSA). The German government ha... Read more
New document was uploaded: S4F backoffice patch
S4F backoffice patch is intended for users who have already installed S4F backoffice and are intended to update existing installations to latest version. To do so apply only patches that are marked with version number that is newer than your currently installed instance of backoffice. Read more
Cash register registration in Germany in 2025

Starting July 1, 2025, all businesses in Germany must register their electronic or fiscal cash registers through the MyElster platform, with existing cash registers to be registered by July 31, 2025, and new ones within 30 days of purchase. Read more