VAT declaration (Germany)

Article
02/29/2024

This article describes how to set up and generate an advance value-added tax (VAT) declaration for Germany in the official XML format. This article also explains how to preview the VAT declaration in Microsoft Excel.

To automatically generate the report, create enough sales tax codes to keep a separate VAT accounting for each box on the advance VAT declaration. Additionally, in the application-specific parameters of the Electronic reporting (ER) format for the advance VAT declaration, associate sales tax codes with the lookup result of the lookups for the boxes on the VAT declaration.

For Germany, you must configure Report field lookup. For more information about how to set up application-specific parameters, see the Set up application-specific parameters for VAT declaration fields section later in this article.

In the following table, the "Lookup result" column shows the lookup result that is preconfigured for a specific VAT declaration row in the VAT declaration format. Use this information to correctly associate sales tax codes with the lookup result and then with the row of the VAT declaration.

VAT declaration overview

The advance VAT declaration in Germany contains the following information.

SECTION – DELIVERIES AND OTHER SERVICES

Taxable sales

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
12	81	Without code	Taxable sales at a tax rate of 19 percent.	20-TaxableSalesStandard 73-BadDebtsWriteOffStandard (81/50) – with minus sign
13	86	Without code	Taxable sales at a tax rate of 7 percent.	21-TaxableSalesReduced 73-BadDebtsWriteOffReduced (86/50) – with minus sign
14	87	No tax amount	Taxable sales at a tax rate of 0 percent.	14-TaxableSalesZeroRates 73-BadDebtsWriteOffZeroRate (87/50) – with minus sign
15	35	36	Taxable sales at other tax rates.	22-TaxableSalesOtherRates 73-BadDebtsWriteOffOtherRates (35/36/50) – with minus sign
16	77	No tax amount	Deliveries from agricultural and forestry businesses in accordance with section 24 of the German VAT Act (UStG) to customers that have a VAT ID number.	23-EUSalesAverageRate24 73-BadDebtsWriteOffEUSalesAverageRate24 (77/50) – with minus sign
17	76	80	Sales that a tax must be paid for, according to section 24 of UStG (sawmill products, beverages, and alcoholic liquids).	24-SalesAverageRate24 73-BadDebtsWriteOffSalesAverageRate24 (76/80/50)

Tax-free sales with input tax deduction

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
18	41	No tax amount	Intra-community deliveries to customers that have a VAT ID.	26-EUSales
19	44	No tax amount	Intra-community deliveries of new vehicles to buyers that don't have a VAT ID.	27-EUSalesNewVehicles
20	49	No tax amount	Intra-community deliveries of new vehicles outside a company.	28-EUSalesNewVehiclesOutsideCompany
21	43	No tax amount	Other tax-free sales that have an input tax deduction, such as export deliveries.	29-ExportOtherTaxFreeSales

Tax free sales without input tax deduction

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
22	48	No tax amount	Tax free sales that don't have an input tax deduction.	30-TaxFreeSalesWithoutInputTaxDeduction

Intra-community acquisitions

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
23	91	No tax amount	Tax-free intra-community acquisitions of some objects and investment gold.	33-TaxFreeEUPurchase
24	89	Without code	Taxable intra-community acquisitions at a tax rate of 19 percent.	34-EUPurchaseStandard 34-UseTaxEUPurchaseStandard (89/61)
25	93	Without code	Taxable intra-community acquisitions at a tax rate of 7 percent.	35-EUPurchaseReduced 35-UseTaxEUPurchaseReduced (93/61)
26	90	No tax amount	Taxable intra-community acquisitions at a tax rate of 0 percent.	26-EUPurchaseZeroRate 26-UseTaxEUPurchaseZeroRate (90/61)
27	95	98	Taxable intra-community acquisitions at other tax rates.	36-EUPurchaseOtherRates 36-UseTaxEUPurchaseOtherRates (95/98/61)
28	94	96	Taxable intra-community acquisitions of new vehicles from suppliers that don't have a VAT ID number, at the general tax rate.	37-EUPurchaseVehicles 37-UseTaxEUPurchaseVehicles (94/96/61)

SECTION – BENEFICIARY AS TAX DEBTOR

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
29	46	47	Other services of an entrepreneur, based on the rest of the Community area.	40-BeneficiaryTaxDebtor 40-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtor (46/47/67)
30	73	74	Sales that fall under section 13b (2) no. 3 of UStG.	41-BeneficiaryTaxDebtorRealEstateTransfer 41-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtorRealEstateTransfer (73/74/67)
31	84	85	Other services that fall under section 13b (2) no. 1, 2, and 4 through 12 of UStG.	42-BeneficiaryTaxDebtorOther 42-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtorOther (84/85/67)

SECTION – SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON SALES

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
32	42	No tax amount	Deliveries by the first customer in the case of intra-community triangular transactions.	48-DeliveriesFirstCustomerEUTriangular
33	60	No tax amount	Taxable sales of the performing entrepreneur that the recipient of the service owes the tax according for.	49-SalesServicesReverseCharge
34	21	No tax amount	Other non-taxable services.	50-OtherServicesNonTaxable
35	45	No tax amount	Other non-taxable sales when the place of performance isn't in Germany.	51-OtherSalesNonTaxable
36	No tax amount	No tax amount	VAT.	Total of lines 12 to 17 and 24 to 31

SECTION – DEDUCTIBLE INPUT TAX

Row	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
37	66	Input invoice tax amounts from other companies, services, and intra-community triangular transactions.	55-InputTax 40-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtor (46/47/67) 74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTax (66/37) – with minus sign.
38	61	Input tax amounts from the intra-community acquisition of goods.	56-InputTaxEUPurchase 34-UseTaxEUPurchaseStandard (89/61) 35-UseTaxEUPurchaseReduced (93/61) 36-UseTaxEUPurchaseOtherRates (95/98/61) 37-UseTaxEUPurchaseVehicles (94/96/61)
39	62	Incurred import sales tax.	57-InputTaxImport
40	67	Input tax amounts from services within the meaning of section 13b of UStG.	58-InputTaxServices 41-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtorRealEstateTransfer (73/74/67) 42-UseTaxBeneficiaryTaxDebtorOther (84/85/67)
41	63	Input tax amounts that are calculated according to general average rates.	59-InputTaxAverageRates 74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTaxAverageRates (63/37) – with minus sign
42	59	Input tax deduction for intra-community deliveries of new vehicles outside a company and small businesses.	60-InputTaxEUPurchaseNewVehicles 74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTaxEUPurchaseNewVehicles (59/37) – with minus sign
43	64	Correction of the input tax deduction.	61-InputTaxCorrection
44	-	The remaining amount.	Line 36 minus lines 37 to 43

SECTION – OTHER TAX AMOUNTS

Row	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
45	65	Tax because of a change in the form of taxation and additional tax on taxed down payments because of change in the tax rate.	64-AdditionalTaxDueChangeTaxRate
46	69	Incorrect or unjustified tax amounts that are shown on invoices, and tax amounts that are owed in accordance with section 6a (4) sentence 2, section 17 (1) sentence 7, or section 25b (2) of UStG, or that are owed by an outsourcing company or warehouse keeper.	65-TaxDecreaseCorrection
47	-	Sales tax prepayment/surplus.	Sum of lines 44 to 46
48	39	Deduction of the fixed special advance payment for permanent extension. This row is typically filled in only with the last advance notification of the tax period.	User input parameter in the report dialog box
49	83	The remaining advance sales tax payment and remaining excess. Include a minus sign in front of the amount.	Row 44 + Row 45 – Row 46 – Row 44

SECTION – SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON REDUCTIONS

Row	Box – tax base	Box – tax amount	Description	Lookup result
50	50	-	Reduction of the tax base on lines 12 through 17.	73-BadDebtsWriteOffStandard (81/50) 73-BadDebtsWriteOffReduced (86/50) 73-BadDebtsWriteOffOtherRates (35/36/50) 73-BadDebtsWriteOffZeroRate (87/50) 73-BadDebtsWriteOffEUSalesAverageRate24 (77/50) 73-BadDebtsWriteOffSalesAverageRate24 (76/80/50)
51	-	37	Reduction of the deductible input tax amounts (on line 37 from invoices from other companies (Section 15 paragraph 1 sentence 1 number 1 UStG) and on lines 41 and 42).	74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTax (66/37) 74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTaxAverageRates (63/37) 74-BadDebtsWriteOffInputTaxEUPurchaseNewVehicles (59/37)

Purchase reverse charge VAT

If you configure sales tax codes to post incoming reverse charge VAT by using use tax, associate your sales tax codes with the lookup result of Report field lookup that contains "UseTax" in the name.

Alternatively, you can configure two separate sales tax codes: one for VAT due and one for VAT deduction. Then associate each code with the corresponding lookup results of Report field lookup.

For example, for taxable intra-community acquisitions at a standard rate, you configure sales tax code UT_S_EU with use tax and associate it with the 34-UseTaxEUPurchaseStandard lookup result of Report field lookup. In this case, amounts that use the UT_S_EU sales tax code are reflected in boxes 089 and 061 (rows 34 and 56).

Alternatively, you configure two sales tax codes:

VAT_S_EU, which has a tax rate value of -19 percent
InVAT_S_EU, which has a tax rate value of 19 percent

You then associate the codes with lookup results of Report field lookup in the following way:

Associate VAT_S_EU with the 34-EUPurchaseStandard lookup result.
Associate InVAT_S_EU with the 56-InputTaxEUPurchase lookup result.

In this case, amounts that use the VAT_S_EU sales tax code are reflected in box 089 (row 34). Amounts that use the InVAT_S_EU sales tax code are reflected in box 061 (row 56).

For more information about how to configure reverse charge VAT, see Reverse charges.

Configure system parameters

To generate a VAT declaration, you must configure the tax number (Steuernummer) of your organization.

Go to Organization administration > Organizations > Legal entities.
Select the legal entity, and then select Registration IDs.
Select or create the address in Germany, and then, on the Registration ID FastTab, select Add.
In the Registration type field, select the registration type that is dedicated to Germany, and that uses the VAT ID registration category.
In the Registration number field, enter the VAT number (Steuernummer).
On the General tab, in the Effective field, enter the date when the number becomes effective.

For more information about how to set up registration categories and registration types, see Registration IDs.

Set up a VAT declaration for Germany

Import ER configurations

Open the Electronic reporting workspace, and import the following ER configurations to prepare Finance to generate a VAT return for Germany.

Number	ER configuration name	Type	Description
1	Tax declaration model	Model	A generic model for different tax declarations.
2	Tax declaration model mapping	Model mapping	A generic model mapping for VAT declarations.
3	VAT Declaration XML (DE)	Format (exporting)	A VAT return in XML format for Germany.
4	VAT Declaration Excel (DE)	Format (exporting)	A VAT return preview file in Excel format for Germany.

Set up application-specific parameters for VAT declaration fields

To automatically generate a VAT declaration, associate sales tax codes in the application and lookup results in the ER configuration.

Note

We recommend that you enable the feature, Use application specific parameters from previous versions of ER formats in the Feature management workspace. When this feature is enabled, parameters that are configured for the earlier version of an ER format automatically become applicable for the later version of the same format. If this feature isn't enabled, you must configure application-specific parameters explicitly for each format version. The Use application specific parameters from previous versions of ER formats feature is available in the Feature management workspace starting in Finance version 10.0.23. For more information about how to set up the parameters of an ER format for each legal entity, see Set up the parameters of an ER format per legal entity.

Follow these steps to define which sales tax codes generate which boxes on the VAT declaration.

Go to Workspaces > Electronic reporting, and select Reporting configurations.
Select the VAT declaration XML (DE) configuration, and then select Configurations > Application specific parameters setup.
On the Application specific parameters page, on the Lookups FastTab, select Report field lookup.

On the Conditions FastTab, set the following fields to associate the sales tax codes and report fields.

Field	Description
Lookup result	Select the value of the report field. For more information about the values and their assignment to VAT declaration rows, see the VAT declaration overview section earlier in this article.
Tax code	Select the sales tax code to associate with the report field. Posted tax transactions that use the selected sales tax code will be collected in the appropriate declaration box. We recommend that you separate sales tax codes in such a way that one sales tax code generates amounts in only one declaration box.
Transaction classifier	If you created enough sales tax codes to determine a declaration box, select *Not blank. If you didn't create enough sales tax codes so that one sales tax code generates amounts in only one declaration box, you can set up a transaction classifier. The following transaction classifiers are available: - Purchase* - PurchaseExempt (tax-exempt purchase) - PurchaseReverseCharge (tax receivable from a purchase reverse charge) - Sales - SalesExempt (tax-exempt sale) - SalesReverseCharge (tax payable from a purchase reverse charge or a sales reverse charge) - Use tax. For each transaction classifier, a classifier for the credit note is also available. For example, one of these classifiers is PurchaseCreditNote (purchase credit note). Be sure to create two lines for each sales tax code: one that has the transaction classifier value and one that has the transaction classifier for credit note value.

Note

Associate all sales tax codes with lookup results. If any sales tax codes should not generate values on the VAT declaration, associate them with the Other lookup result.

Application specific parameters page

In the State field, change the value to Completed.
On the Action Pane, select Export to export the settings of the application-specific parameters.
Select the VAT declaration Excel (DE) configuration, and then, on the Action Pane, select Import to import the parameters that you configured for VAT declaration XML (DE).
In the State field, select Completed.

Set up the VAT reporting format for preview amounts in Excel

In the Feature management workspace, find and enable the VAT statement format reports feature.
Go to General ledger > Setup > General ledger parameters.
On the Sales tax tab, on the Tax options FastTab, in the VAT statement format mapping field, select VAT declaration Excel (DE).

This format is printed when you run the Report sales tax for settlement period report. It's also printed when you select Print on the Sales tax payments page.
If you must report the corrections, on the Special report section, set Include corrections to Yes.
On the Tax authorities page, select the tax authority, and in the Report layout field, select Default.

If you're configuring the VAT declaration in a legal entity that has multiple VAT registrations, follow these steps:

Go to General ledger > Setup > General ledger parameters.
On the Sales tax tab, on the Electronic reporting for countries/regions FastTab, on the line for DEU, select the VAT Declaration Excel (DE) ER format.

Set up electronic messages

Download and import the data package that has example settings for electronic messages

The data package contains electronic message settings that are used to generate the VAT declaration in XML format and then preview it in Excel. You can extend these settings or create your own. For more information about how to work with electronic messaging and create your own settings, see Electronic messaging.

In Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services(LCS), in the Shared asset library, select Data package as the asset type, and then download DE VAT declaration EM package. The downloaded file name is DE VAT declaration EM package.zip.
In Dynamics 365 Finance, in the Data management workspace, select Import.
On the Import FastTab, in the Group name field, enter a name for the job.
On the Selected entities FastTab, select Add file.
In Add file dialog box, verify that the Source data format field is set to Package, select Upload and add, and then select the zip file that you downloaded earlier.
Select Close.
After the data entities are uploaded, on the Action Pane, select Import.
Go to Tax > Inquiries and reports > Electronic messages > Electronic messages, and validate the electronic message processing that you imported.

Configure electronic messages

Go to Tax > Setup > Electronic messages > Populate records actions.
Select the line for DE Populate VAT return records, and then select Edit query.
Use the filter to specify the settlement periods to include on the report.
If you must report tax transactions from other settlement periods in a different declaration, create a new Populate records action, and select the appropriate settlement periods.

Preview the VAT declaration in Excel

Preview the VAT declaration in Excel from the Report sales tax for settlement period periodic task

Go to Tax > Periodic tasks > Declarations > Sales tax > Report sales tax for settlement period.
In the Settlement period field, select a value.
In the Sales tax payment version field, select one of the following values:
- Original: Generate a report for the sales tax transactions of the original sales tax payment or before the sales tax payment is generated.
- Corrections: Generate a report for the sales tax transactions of all the subsequent sales tax payments for the period.
- Total list: Generate a report for all the sales tax transactions for the period, including the original and all corrections.
In the From date field, select the start date of the reporting period.
Select OK, and review the Excel report.

Settle and post sales tax

Go to Tax > Periodic tasks > Declarations > Sales tax > Settle and post sales tax.
In the Settlement period field, select a value.
In the Sales tax payment version field, select one of the following values:
- Original: Generate the original sales tax payment for the settlement period.
- Latest corrections: Generate a correction sales tax payment after the original sales tax payment for the settlement period was created.
In the From date field, select the start date of the reporting period.
Select OK.

Preview the VAT declaration in Excel from a sales tax payment

Go to Tax > Inquiries and reports > Sales tax inquiries > Sales tax payments, and select a sales tax payment line.
Select Print report, and then select OK.
Review the Excel file that is generated for the selected sales tax payment line.

Note

The report is generated only for the selected line of the sales tax payment. If you want to generate, for example, a corrective declaration that contains all the corrections for the period, or a replacement declaration that contains the original data and all corrections, use the Report sales tax for settlement period periodic task.

Generate a VAT declaration from electronic messages

When you use electronic messages to generate the report, you can collect tax data from multiple legal entities. For more information, see the Run a VAT declaration for multiple legal entities section later in this article.

The following procedure applies to the electronic message processing example that you imported from the LCS Shared asset library.

Go to Tax > Inquiries and reports > Electronic messages > Electronic messages.
In the left pane, select DE VAT declaration.
On the Messages FastTab, select New, and then, in the Run processing dialog box, select OK.
Select the message line that is created, enter a description, and then specify the start and end dates for the declaration.

Note

Steps 5 through 7 are optional.
Optional: On the Messages FastTab, select Collect data, and then select OK. The sales tax payments that were generated earlier are added to the message. For more information, see the Settle and post sales tax section earlier in this article. If you skip this step, you can still generate a VAT declaration by using the Tax declaration version field in the Declaration dialog box.
Optional: On the Message items FastTab, review the sales tax payments that are transferred for processing. By default, all sales tax payments of the selected period that weren't included in any other message of the same processing are included.
Optional: Select Original document to review the sales tax payments, or select Delete to exclude sales tax payments from processing. If you skip this step, you can still generate a VAT declaration by using the Tax declaration version field in the Declaration dialog box.
On the Messages FastTab, select Update status. In the Update status dialog box, select Ready to generate, and then select OK. Verify that the message status is changed to Ready to generate.
Select Generate report. To preview the VAT declaration amounts, in the Run processing dialog box, select Preview report, and then select OK.

In the Electronic reporting parameters dialog box, set the following fields, and then select OK.

Field	Description
Settlement period	Select the settlement period. If you selected Collect data in step 5, you can leave this field blank. The report will be generated for the sales tax transactions that are included in the collected sales tax payments.
Tax declaration version	Select one of the following values: - Original – Generate a report for the sales tax transactions of the original sales tax payment or before the sales tax payment is generated. - Corrections – Generate a report for the sales tax transactions of all the subsequent sales tax payments for the period. - Total list – Generate a report for all the sales tax transactions for the period, including the original and all corrections.
Tax representative	Select the party that's a tax representative for VAT declaration, if applicable. Information about the selected party is exported to the DatenLieferant XML element.
Contact person	Select a person in the organization who is a data supplier. Information about selected person is exported to the DatenLieferant XML element.
Corrective return	Select Yes if this is corrective VAT declaration. In this case, XML element KZ10 will have a value of 1.
Supporting documents	Select Yes if you also send supporting documents. In this case, XML element KZ22 will have a value of 1.
The SEPA direct debit mandate will be revoked as an exception	Select Yes if the SEPA direct debit mandate will be revoked as an exception for this pre-registration period. For example, because of offsetting requests. Any remaining balance is to be paid separately. In this case, XML element KZ26 will have a value of 1.
Offsetting of the reimburcement amount desired	Select Yes if offsetting of the reimbursement amount wanted or if the reimbursement amount has been assigned. In this case, XML element KZ29 will have a value of 1.
Special advance payment permanent extension	Enter the deduction amount of the fixed special advance payment for permanent extension. This deduction amount is usually only completed in the last pre-registration of the tax period. The amount is exported in row 67 (box 39) and XML element KZ39 of the VAT declaration.

Select Attachments in the upper-right corner of the page, and then select Open.
Review the amounts in the Excel document, and then select Generate report.
To generate a VAT declaration in XML format, in the Run processing dialog box, select Generate report, and then select OK.
In the Electronic reporting parameters dialog box, set the fields as described in step 10.
Select Attachments in the upper-right corner of the page, download the file, and use it for your submission to the tax authority.

Run a VAT declaration for multiple legal entities

To use the formats to report the VAT declaration for a group of legal entities, you must first set up the application-specific parameters of the ER formats for sales tax codes from all required legal entities.

Set up electronic messages to collect tax data from several legal entities

Follow these steps to set up electronic messages that will collect data from multiple legal entities.

Go to Workspaces > Feature management.
Find and select the Cross-company queries for the populate records actions feature in the list, and then select Enable now.
Go to Tax > Setup > Electronic messages > Populate records actions.
On the Populate records action page, select the line for DE Populate VAT return records.

In the Datasources setup grid, a new Company field is available. For existing records, this field shows the identifier of the current legal entity.

In the Datasources setup grid, add a line for each additional legal entity that must be included in reporting. For each new line, set the following fields.

Field	Description
Name	Enter a value that will help you understand where this record comes from. For example, enter VAT payment of Subsidiary 1.
Message item type	Select VAT return. This value is the only value that is available for all the records.
Account type	Select All.
Master table name	Specify TaxReportVoucher for all the records.
Document number field	Specify Voucher for all the records.
Document date field	Specify TransDate for all the records.
Document account field	Specify TaxPeriod for all the records.
Company	Select the ID of the legal entity.
User query	This checkbox is automatically selected when you define criteria by selecting Edit query.

For each new line, select Edit query, and specify a related settlement period for the legal entity that is specified in the Company field on the line.

When the setup is completed, the Collect data function on the Electronic messages page collects sales tax payments from all legal entities that you defined.