How much does a tax advisor in Germany cost? Tax refund costs with the help of a specialist

Ile kosztuje doradca podatkowy w Niemczech?

Tax return is not one of the most pleasant activities – and it is not only about financial matters, but above all about formalities. People who want to save themselves trouble often decide to support a tax advisor. There are many benefits of using a specialist, but you should bear in mind that these types of services are paid. What are the costs of a private tax advisor in Germany? How much do German tax advisers cost if you are self-employed? You will find answers to these and other questions in the further part of today’s post – we cordially invite you.

How much does a tax advisor in Germany cost? It depends

How much does a tax advisor in Germany cost? This question first comes to mind when we decide to seek the help of a specialist. It is known – the price for this type of service must be profitable for both sides. It is worth knowing that the costs of advice from a tax advisor from Germany are not strictly defined in advance (in the form of a lump sum). This solution makes it difficult for us to calculate how much the total price for the help of a specialist will realistically be. 

However, it is worth knowing that in 2012, the regulation on remuneration of tax advisers – StBVV entered into force. The law contains information on what fees such a person may collect as part of the assistance offered. So what are the costs of a tax advisor from Germany? Depending on what is included in the service package, as well as the value of the item, there is a minimum and maximum rate for the service. Importantly: the cost of a tax advisor in Germany cannot be lower or higher than these values.

The legal regulation of the StBVV was created to prevent price competition between advisers, and to help taxpayers to estimate the similar costs of tax advisors in Germany.

Average cost of a tax advisor with German tax returns 

The costs of tax advisors in Germany are always determined individually – it all depends on the scope of services and the difficulty of the topic. It is worth remembering that the costs of tax return by a German adviser will be different for ordinary declarations, and even different for slightly more complicated ones.

At this point, however, it is worth recalling the regulation that we wrote about in the previous paragraph. The StVBB defines a certain framework relating to the amount and legitimacy of fees for tax advisers in Germany.

How does the aforementioned regulation translate into specific prices for the services of tax advisors from Germany? Under the current rules, the concept of an average fee applies. It serves as a starting point for tax advisers in Germany to set an appropriate final price for their services. 

The average fee is the result of an activity in which the minimum as well as the maximum rate provided for the service is added. The value must then be divided by 2.

Costs of advice from a German Tax Advisor – Tithe

As part of the aforementioned regulation, appropriate ranges were established for the individual fee for services, which are commonly known as tithe.

According to the StBVV, this term can be understood as one-tenth of the maximum fee. The table below shows what the typical cost of a tax advisor in Germany based on “tithe”.

Service

Tithe Scale Tax Adviser Cost

Income tax return (without determining individual income)

From 1/10 to 6/10

Business tax declaration

From 1/10 to 6/10

VAT declaration for a given calendar year (including additional applications and reports)

From 1/10 to 8/10

Gift tax refund

From 2/10 to 10/10

Inheritance Tax Declaration (without establishing a claim for compensation which complies with Section 5 of the Inheritance Tax Act)

From 2/10 to 10/10

Costs of a private tax advisor in Germany – table of typical cases

But how does this translate in practice into the costs of a tax advisor from Germany? The Fee Regulation provides for the above-mentioned a maximum fee, which is expressed as 10/10. How high it will be depends on the value of the item (annual turnover or taxpayer’s income). 

In the table below we have provided a breakdown of what the generally accepted costs of consulting a tax advisor in Germany in comparison to the value of the item are.

Item value

Full fee (10/10)

5000 €

316 €

10 000 €

510 €

16 000 €

594 €

25 000 €

720 €

35 000 €

872 €

50 000 €

1098 €

65 000 €

1179 €

80 000 €

1000 €

95 000 €

1000 €

140 000 €

1000 €

200 000 €

1907 €

600 000 €

2867 €

Importantly, this table should be treated as a margin – the settlement costs of a tax advisor in Germany may be higher (advisers may charge customers with additional fees). They are related, i.e. with expenses for communication (mail, telephone, fax), commuting (transport costs) or expenses for copies. This is fully in line with the current regulation.

How much do German tax advisers cost if you are self-employed?

A frequently asked question is “How much do German tax advisers cost when we are self-employed?” For such persons, the annual net turnover is the value of the item used to calculate the specific consulting costs. And here is an important information: the more effort the advisor puts in the declarations, the higher the service fee will be. 

The costs of a tax advisor from Germany in the form of a lump sum – is it allowed?

Can the costs of tax return from German advisers take the form of a lump sum? Yes. The regulation provides this possibility (§ 14 StBVV). Importantly, in order to do it this way, you must submit an appropriate letter for a period of at least one year for the current service (accounting, tax consultancy). 

If you are interested in a form of cooperation with a trusted tax advisor from Germany, take advantage of our PREMIUM offer. With us, you know in advance how much you will pay, and you will also receive a guarantee of the highest quality services.