Value-added tax - small businesses (Kleinunternehmer)
Umsatzsteuer - Kleinunternehmer
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
For the Kleinunternehmer (small business owner) there are significant simplifications regarding VAT (value added tax). Sales made as a Kleinunternehmer are tax-exempt. As a rule, he does not need to submit VAT advance returns to the Finanzamt (tax office).
However, for declaration periods up to and including 2023, Kleinunternehmer are required to submit an annual VAT return. For declaration periods from 2024 onward, Kleinunternehmer no longer need to submit an annual VAT return either.
What are the consequences of the Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation)?
A Kleinunternehmer may not show VAT on his invoices and may not claim input tax deduction. However, he can waive the application of the Kleinunternehmerregelung by declaration to the Finanzamt and thereby opt for standard taxation (binding for 5 years).
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• You are a Kleinunternehmer (small business owner)
• A Kleinunternehmer is an entrepreneur whose total turnover in the past calendar year did not exceed 25,000 euros and does not exceed 100,000 euros in the current calendar year. The Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation) ends immediately once turnover reaches the level that causes the total turnover limit for the current calendar year (100,000 euros) to be exceeded.
• In the year a business is founded, the only requirement is that total turnover does not exceed the limit of 25,000 euros. For details of the regulations, please contact your responsible Finanzamt (tax office).
• Note: For years up to and including 2024, the requirement for the Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation) was that total turnover in the past calendar year did not exceed 22,000 euros (17,500 euros up to 2019) and was not expected to exceed 50,000 euros in the current calendar year. For the expected turnover of the current year, the anticipated turnover development expected at the start of the year was decisive.
Documents you need
• No separate application required
The Kleinunternehmerregelung (small business regulation) applies by operation of law. A separate application is not required. However, when setting up a business, information on the expected amount of revenue must be provided in the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung (questionnaire for tax registration).
Fees
None
Legal basis
• Umsatzsteuergesetz (UStG) [Value Added Tax Act] § 19 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ustg_1980/__19.html
Who is responsible
The Finanzamt (tax office) responsible is the one where you are registered for tax purposes.
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Finanzamt Charlottenburg
- Finanzamt Charlottenburg
- Finanzamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Finanzamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Finanzamt Lichtenberg
- Finanzamt Lichtenberg
- Finanzamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Finanzamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Finanzamt Mitte/Tiergarten
- Finanzamt Mitte/Tiergarten
- Finanzamt Neukölln
- Finanzamt Neukölln
- Finanzamt Pankow/Weißensee
- Finanzamt Pankow/Weißensee
- Finanzamt Prenzlauer Berg
- Finanzamt Prenzlauer Berg
- Finanzamt Reinickendorf
- Finanzamt Reinickendorf
- Finanzamt Schöneberg
- Finanzamt Schöneberg
- Finanzamt Spandau
- Finanzamt Spandau
- Finanzamt Steglitz
- Finanzamt Steglitz
- Finanzamt Tempelhof
- Finanzamt Tempelhof
- Finanzamt Treptow-Köpenick
- Finanzamt Treptow-Köpenick
- Finanzamt Wedding
- Finanzamt Wedding
- Finanzamt Wilmersdorf
- Finanzamt Wilmersdorf
- Finanzamt Zehlendorf
- Finanzamt Zehlendorf
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften I
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften I
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften II
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften II
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften III
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften III
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften IV
- Finanzamt für Körperschaften IV
- Finanzamt Berlin International
- Finanzamt Berlin International
Original
Service number 325851 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/325851/