🇩🇪 Intrastat return in Germany: First steps

Below you'll find a guide to booking and using our product for Intrastat returns in Germany.

Booking the product in the Taxdoo dashboard

You first need to book the product. To do so, log into the Taxdoo dashboard and navigate to the Settings  →  Add-ons on the left-hand menu bar. Then, select the desired return (either import, export or both). There you'll also see the price. Click on Book for a fee for the desired return. You'll receive a success message if the booking is placed.

Saving the tax number

Your German tax number (not the VAT identification number) is required for creating the XML file. This is between 10 and 11 characters long depending on the federal state.

To find out whether your tax number is saved with Taxdoo: navigate to Compliance in the Taxdoo dashboard, then Tax information and click on the Registrations tab. There you should see the tax number in the row for Germany, under tax number. If the entry is empty or no longer current, please contact our support. 

Entering the material number

A "material number" is used for identifying the XML file. If you have not yet carried out any returns using the IDEV portal, you won't have a material number. Instead, Taxdoo will enter XGTEST in the XML file as the material number. This indicates a new reporter to the portal. After the first XML file has been successfully processed, the Federal Statistical Office will assign you a material number. Please let our support know this number in a brief message.

Entering a differentiation number

If the Federal Statistical Office assigns you a differentiation number, please inform our support of this number in a brief message.

Providing missing product information

In this connection, please note this article: Entering missing product information for the Intrastat return.

Downloading the XML file in the Taxdoo dashboard

As soon as the XML file has been created, you'll receive an email that the XML file is available in the Taxdoo dashboard. To download the file, log into the Taxdoo dashboard and navigate to Compliance  → Intrastat. There, select the Documents download tab and find the XML file in the respective period under Germany. If you see the import and export returns for a period, you only need to click on one of the two links. In this case, the files are identical.

Uploading the XML file to the Federal Statistical Office (IDEV portal)

The XML file must be uploaded using the IDEV portal of the Federal Statistical Office by no later than the 10th workday of the month. You are responsible yourself for complying with the deadlines. The deadlines for the years 2020/21 can be found here.

If you don't yet have access to the IDEV portal, you'll first need to click on register and then select Intrahandel. After submitting the form, you'll receive your access data for the IDEV portal from the Federal Statistical Office. You do not need to share this access data with Taxdoo.

Retroactive generation of Intrastat returns

It may be necessary to retroactively generate Intrastat returns if you have already exceeded reporting thresholds in the past. These are available at the same price per month. Use our Help Center.