With a Bookkeeping account, you can easily create your Umsatzsteuervoranmeldung (VAT return) and submit it directly to your tax office via the Kontist Online Banking (this function is not yet available for the mobile app).
If you want your VAT to be debited automatically, you must grant a SEPA direct debit mandate to your tax office. Otherwise, you have to make the transfer yourself.
How can I submit an UStVA (VAT return) to my tax office?
Log in to your Kontist Online Banking on your computer
Click on "UStVA" in the navigation menu on the left
In the overview of upcoming UStVAs (VAT returns), click on the period for which you want to submit the UStVA
Alternatively, you can also see the currently pending UStVA (VAT prepayments) displayed in purple at the top - click on "Review" hereIf all transactions for the selected period have been categorized, the "Submit UStVA" button will be enabled
Click on "Submit UStVA" and confirm in the pop-up that you have understood all the conditions for the submission
Your VAT return has now been submitted and you will see the successful submission in green
Why is the "Submit UStVA" button disabled?
The submission button remains disabled until all transactions for the selected period have been categorized or set to "private". Uncategorized transactions are displayed at the top of your transaction list.
How can I correct a UStVa (VAT return) that has already been submitted?
From 2023 on, you can make changes to your past bookkeeping at any time. Once these changes are complete, you can resubmit your UStVA to correct your last submission to the tax office.
Click on "UStVA" in the navigation menu on the left
In the overview of upcoming UStVAs (VAT returns), click on the period for which you want to submit the corrected UStVA
Click on "Resubmit UStVA" and confirm in the pop-up that you have understood all the conditions for the submission
Your VAT return has now been submitted and you will see the successful resubmission in green
How does the VAT debit work?
Attention: To have your VAT (Umsatzsteuer) automatically debited, you must grant a SEPA mandate to your tax office.
If you have not set up a SEPA mandate, you must transfer the VAT prepayments (Umsatzsteuervorauszahlung) manually from your Kontist account to your tax office.
Where can I find my submission protocols?
Option 1: Click on "UStVA" in the navigation menu on the left, at the bottom of the page you will see all your previously submitted UStVAs (Vat declarations) in the "Submitted" section and can download the corresponding submission protocols
Option 2: Click on "Downloads" in the navigation menu on the left and on the "UStVA" card to download the submission protocols
Why are the wrong periods displayed in my VAT return overview?
If your UStVa (VAT return) frequency changes, you need to adjust this in your settings to get the correct periods displayed for each year.
In your mobile app under "Profile - Settings - Value Added Tax"
In your online banking under "Profile - Value Added Tax"
Now select the correct frequency for each year
For regular taxation "Monthly", "Quarterly" or "I don't make VAT prepayments"
For small businesses (Kleinunternehmerregelung nach § 19 UStG) "Quarterly" or "I don't make VAT prepayments"
How do I submit a zero return UStVA?
Since June 2024, you can also easily handle null submissions via your Kontist Online Banking.
Follow the same steps as for a regular UStVA submission
The "Submit UStVA" button is now also enabled if there are no booked transactions and the amount is "0.00 €"
Click on "Submit UStVA" and confirm in the pop-up that you have understood all the conditions for the submission
Your null submission is now submitted and you see the successful submission in green