An Umsatzsteuernummer is a German VAT number, commonly known as a USt-IdNr or Umsatzsteuer-ID.

If you are a freelancer or self-employed worker in Germany, you will need an Umsatzsteuernummer in order to report VAT payments you receive to your local tax office (Finanzamt) as well as to claim back any VAT expenses you incurred.

You can apply for your Umsatzsteuernummer when registering as a freelancer in Germany via the Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung form. Rather than battle through the complex German form on your own, we recommend using Sorted's free English service to complete the form correctly and to ensure you successfully apply for a German VAT number.

Related resources

• How to set up as a freelancer in Germany

• How to operate as a freelancer in Germany

• Managing your taxes as a freelancer in Germany

• Steueridentifikationsnummer vs Steuernummer: Which Tax Numbers Do I Need in Germany?

• Private Health Insurance in Germany: Which Is the Best Policy to Choose?