Germany · Freiberufler anmelden

Register as a freelancer in Germany

To invoice clients as a self-employed person in Germany, you register with the Finanzamt and receive a tax number (Steuernummer). Liberal professions (Freiberufler — designers, developers, writers, consultants) register directly with the tax office; a commercial trade (Gewerbe) registers at the Gewerbeamt first.

Free. The Steuernummer arrives by post about 2–4 weeks after you file the questionnaire.

Good to know — wherever you live

  • File the 'Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung' online via ELSTER — there's no in-person appointment for freelancers.
  • If you'll earn under the threshold, the Kleinunternehmer rule lets you skip charging VAT — tick it on the form if it fits.
  • Non-EU residents need a residence permit that allows self-employment — check your Aufenthaltstitel before you start invoicing.
  • Set aside roughly 25–30% of income for tax, and keep every receipt — Germany lets you deduct a lot of business costs.

Now pick your city

The office, booking portal and local quirks differ from city to city — your city's guide has the exact steps, documents and booking link.

BerlinMunichHamburgFrankfurtCologneDüsseldorfStuttgartLeipzigDortmundEssenBremenDresdenHannoverNurembergBonnMannheimKarlsruheMünsterAachenMainzAugsburgWiesbadenBielefeldBochumWuppertalFreiburgHeidelbergDarmstadtRegensburgWürzburgKielLübeckPotsdamSaarbrücken

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Doing Register as a freelancer online? Let TiG Pilot read the form with you

On the authority's own website, TiG Pilot explains what every German field is asking — Geburtsort, Familienstand, Steuer-ID — flags the traps, and fills the details you saved once. It never invents a value and never presses send.

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