What is the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung?
In order to start working as a freelancer or self-employed worker in Germany, you must notify your local Finanzamt about your freelance activity via a freelance registration form known as the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung.
Crucially, you need to complete and submit this form to your local Finanzamt in order to receive your freelance tax number (Steuernummer), which is needed before you can legally invoice clients in Germany.
The Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung form is complicated and in German. With this in mind, we highly recommend using Sorted’s free freelance registration service, which guides you through the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung form in English. This ensures you understand the form fully and enter all the correct details. Better still, Sorted will then submit the completed form to your local Finanzamt on your behalf.
Once submitted to the tax office, you can expect to receive your Steuernummer within 3–6 weeks, after which you are free to invoice clients and receive payment for your work.
The Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung form is also where you can apply for your German VAT number (Umsatzsteurnummer) or declare that you are a small business owner (Kleinunternehmer).