Dateneingabe - set up your user account by entering your email, Benutzername (user name) and Sicherheitsabfrage and Antwort (security question and answer). Identifikation - how do you want to identify yourself? Select Mit E-Mail or with email.Ħ. Personalisierung - this page asks who the account is being set up for. When you are asked how you want to log in, choose Zertifikatsdatei by clicking the blue button Ausswählen (select).Ĥ. You will see an overview of the login process - click Weiter again.ģ. Go to the ELSTER website and click on Benutzerkonto erstellen to create user account.Ģ.You will be prompted to get a Zertifikatsdatei or certificate file in order to log in, which you’ll receive after registering - click Weiter (next).STEP ONE: REGISTERING TO USE ELSTER FOR THE FIRST TIME Please research your job category if you are unsure.Īnd as always - when in doubt, check your individual situation with a tax professional! Some common jobs (such as bicycle delivery person, tour guide, cleaner, etc.) may not be classified as freelancing in Germany at all - but may actually be a Gewerbe, or trade, requiring you to get a Gewerbeschein or trade license. Please note: this guide is meant for those with straightforward freelance income (artists, teachers, writers, etc.). Since 2021, this form needs to be completed online via the ELSTER portal - or as Germany calls it, ‘Your Online Tax Office.’ This guide will help you set up a user account for the first time as well as complete the freelancer registration form. To start invoicing and collecting money in Germany, you’ll need to get a freelance Steuernummer or tax number (not the same thing as the Tax ID you received after registering your address) - and that means filling out the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung.

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