Tax autopilot: file your VAT returns and find tax savings

Tax autopilot does two things: it prepares and files your VAT advance returns (UStVA), and it looks through your books for ways to lower your taxes. Nothing is filed or changed without your approval.

Where to find it

Open Taxes. The Tax autopilot block sits above the tax reports: Next filing on the left, the year's Savings on the right. Click the block's title, or the Tax efficiency score at the top of the page, to open the full page with the Filing and Savings tabs.

Turn it on

1. On Taxes, click Turn on tax autopilot.
2. Read what it does: Norman prepares each UStVA, checks the whole period, you approve, Norman files and confirms, and it finds savings.
3. Tick the box. It confirms that Norman files nothing until you approve the exact preview, and that savings are estimates from Norman's analysis without a guarantee.
4. Click Turn on.

If you don't file a monthly or quarterly UStVA, for example as a Kleinunternehmer, Tax autopilot turns on savings only. You can switch filing off at any time with the Enabled switch on the Filing tab, and back on with Turn on filing.

Filing your VAT returns

How a period runs

1. Preparing: When a period ends, Norman collects your transactions, computes the figures and builds the UStVA preview. You can also start it yourself with Prepare UStVA.
2. Checks: Norman checks the whole period: categories, documents, duplicates, input VAT, bank sync, verification and unusual activity. A check that fails names the problem, and a click takes you to it. Each item has Resolve; some also have Fix with AI or Mark as resolved. While something stops the filing, the status says Needs input.
3. Ready for approval: The card shows the period, the deadline and the VAT to pay. What you're approving sums it up, Open preview shows the exact return and Ask AI explains it.
4. Approve filing: Norman submits the UStVA through ELSTER and confirms the result. The card then says Filed and offers Download report.

Norman also emails you when a return needs input, is ready, is filed or failed. The email for a ready return has a link to approve it. Preparing and the preview work on every plan; filing needs a paid plan.

Returns filed before are listed under Earlier filings, each with its document.

What else goes into the return

Under What else goes into the … return, Norman lists VAT tips for the open return, each with the line (Kz) it changes:

• VAT shown on receipts (Kz 66): receipts show input VAT that isn't booked yet.
• Reverse charge (Kz 46/47 or 84/85, and 67): services you bought from companies abroad.
• Expenses without a receipt (Kz 66): input VAT you can claim once the receipt is there.

Click Review to see the details and book the change. Next to the tips, the UStVA preview shows the return as it is now and with the tips.

Savings

Tax efficiency score

The share of Norman's checks that are fine, fixed or marked as not relevant. Click the number to see each check.

Plan your tax

The forecast shows your income tax for the year, or your corporate and trade tax for a UG or GmbH, projected from your bookings so far. Move a slider or type a number to see what changes:

• Home office days: the home office flat rate, 6 € a day and up to 1,260 € a year. Book … days books it.
• Small purchases before Dec 31: equipment, furniture or tools up to 800 € net per item count in full for the year. Only worth it for things you'd buy anyway.
• Client payments that arrive in January: your EÜR counts income when the money arrives.
• Staff bonuses (UG and GmbH): bonuses agreed in writing can be booked as a provision at the year-end close.

Nothing is booked until you press a button. Reset to Norman's estimate brings the sliders back.

More from your books

Suggestions Norman found in your assets and trips, for example writing off a computer in one year or meal allowances for business trips. Open one to see the math and what changes, answer its question if it has one, then apply it. Not relevant hides it, Remind me later brings it back later, and Undo reverses an applied change.

On the Free plan you see every saving and the math behind it. Applying changes is part of a paid plan.

Check again runs the checks right away.

Good to know

• Savings are estimates from Norman's tax calculation with your bookings. Norman doesn't guarantee a saving: the Finanzamt decides in its assessment.
• The suggestions are Norman's analysis of your books, not a review of your individual situation. You decide what to apply.
• If your profit stays under the tax-free allowance, there is no income tax to lower, so deductions save nothing that year.
• Without transactions or journal entries for the year, there is nothing to check yet.

Related articles

• Create and file the UStVA in Norman: step by step
• Record flat rates: home office, meal allowance and private car
• Plans, managing and cancelling your subscription