German Tax Offices: BZSt and Finanzamt

In Germany, tax matters are managed by two main entities: the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt) and the Finanzamt. Below is an overview of their responsibilities and guidance on how to identify your responsible agency.

Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt)

The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) handles national tax matters, including:

• Allocating VAT numbers for entrepreneurs.
• Issuing Tax Identification Numbers (Tax IDs).

Depending on the nature of your request, the contact details for the BZSt will vary. You can find the relevant information on the official BZSt website.

Finanzamt

The Finanzamt is the regional tax office responsible for:

• Administering taxes on behalf of municipalities, federal states, and the federal government (excluding customs duties).
• Collecting income taxes, property taxes, business taxes, and other levies.
• Processing annual tax returns and registering freelancers and new businesses.

Key Points:

• There are approximately 650 Finanzämter across Germany.
• The responsible tax office is determined by your address in Germany. If you relocate, your tax office may also change.
• To find your local tax office, enter your postcode here.

For Non-German Companies

If your business is not based in Germany, specific tax offices are designated to handle foreign entities. You can access a list of responsible tax offices for foreign businesses here.