I'm a freelancer. How do I register for tax and get a VAT number?
You open an ELSTER account and activate it with a code that comes by post. Then you fill in the tax registration form in ELSTER, and your tax number arrives by post.
The first step is an account on ELSTER, the German tax office's online portal. When you register, you're given a code.
About two weeks later a letter arrives at your home. You activate your account with the code in the letter and the first code.
Then you fill in the form for self-employed people in ELSTER (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung, the tax registration form). It asks what services you'll offer and what you expect to earn.
Your tax number and, if you need one, your USt-IdNr (EU VAT number) come by post. How long this takes varies.
If you're unsure about anything, you can ask a tax adviser (Steuerberater).
This information is based on community experience and is not legal advice. Rules can change; check important things with the responsible office.
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