Complete Tax Guide for WooCommerce Sellers in Germany (2025)

Introduction

WooCommerce, as a popular e-commerce solution for WordPress, requires special attention when complying with German tax regulations. This guide will help you set up and operate your WooCommerce shop in compliance with German law.

Market Relevance

• WordPress/WooCommerce as the most used e-commerce platform in Germany

• High flexibility through open-source structure

• Special requirements for tax configuration

1. Basic Tax Requirements

Tax Registration

Mandatory Registrations:

1. Tax Number and VAT ID

   • Tax number from local tax office (Finanzamt)

   • VAT ID from Federal Central Tax Office

   • Small business regulation (up to €22,000 annual turnover)

2. Business Registration

   • Prerequisite for tax registration

   • Required documents

   • Costs and deadlines

2. WooCommerce-specific Tax Settings

Basic Configuration

Tax Settings in WooCommerce:

1. Basic Settings:

   • WooCommerce → Settings → Taxes

   • Price input (Gross/Net)

   • Tax calculation based on: • Business location • Customer location • Shipping address

2. Setting Up Tax Rates:

   • Standard rate (19%)

   • Reduced rate (7%)

   • Tax classes for different product categories

Recommended Tax Plugins

1. German Market for WooCommerce:

   • Legally compliant display

   • Automatic tax calculation

   • Invoice generation

2. WooCommerce Germanized:

   • DACH-specific adjustments

   • Legally secure texts

   • Tax specifics

3. Technical Implementation

Plugin Configuration

German Market Setup:

1. Basic Settings:

   • Price display (Gross/Net)

   • Shipping cost taxation

   • Small business regulation

2. Invoice Settings:

   • Automatic invoice numbers

   • PDF invoices

   • Mandatory information

Tax Classes and Products

1. Product Configuration:

   • Assign standard tax class

   • Special tax classes for: • Books (7%) • Digital products (19%) • Food items (7%)

2. Shipping Tax:

   • Configuration of shipping tax classes

   • EU shipping

   • International shipping

4. Legal Requirements

Invoicing

Mandatory Information:

1. Invoice Elements:

   • Complete company name and address

   • Tax number/VAT ID

   • Invoice number and date

   • Service description

   • Tax rates and amounts

2. Digital Invoices:

   • GoBD-compliant creation

   • Archiving

   • Sending options

Documentation Requirements

1. Retention Obligations:

   • Invoices (10 years)

   • Business documents (6 years)

   • Digital storage

2. Export Formats:

   • DATEV export

   • GoBD-compliant export

   • Backup strategies

5. Special Scenarios

EU Trade

1. OSS Procedure:

   • Registration

   • Reporting obligations

   • Thresholds

2. Reverse Charge:

   • B2B transactions

   • Documentation requirements

   • VAT ID verification

International Sales

1. Third Countries:

   • Export documentation

   • Customs declarations

   • Tax exemption

6. Integration and Automation

Accounting Software

1. DATEV Integration:

   • Export formats

   • Automatic bookings

   • Document processing

2. Other Systems:

   • Lexware

   • Sevdesk

   • QuickBooks

7. Support and Help

Z Beratung - Your WooCommerce Tax Experts

• Individual consulting for WooCommerce sellers

• Professional bookkeeping from €70 net plus 19% VAT

• Expertise in digital tax consulting

Contact Us:

• Phone: +49 155 61037720

• Email: info@zberatung.de

• Address: Lankwitzer Straße 6, 12107 Berlin

8. Practical Implementation Checklist

Initial Setup

1. Tax Registration:

   • Obtain tax number

   • Apply for VAT ID

   • Register business

2. WooCommerce Configuration:

   • Install necessary plugins

   • Configure tax settings

   • Set up product tax classes

Monthly Tasks

1. Tax Compliance:

   • Check tax calculations

   • Verify invoice compliance

   • Prepare VAT returns

2. Documentation:

   • Archive invoices

   • Back up tax data

   • Update tax records

9. Common Pitfalls and Solutions

Technical Issues

1. Tax Calculation Errors:

   • Wrong tax class assignment

   • Incorrect shipping tax

   • Plugin conflicts

2. Documentation Problems:

   • Missing invoice elements

   • Incorrect tax rates

   • Export issues