Connect
Connect bank accounts, invoice channels, and receipt sources so VAT-relevant revenue and input VAT flow into Norman continuously.
File your German VAT return online, in English
Norman is VAT return software that calculates revenue and input VAT automatically from bank and receipts and submits your UStVA directly to the Finanzamt. Instead of decoding German tax forms, you only review open items.
What does the VAT return software do for you?
Norman calculates revenue and input VAT continuously and files the finished VAT return with the Finanzamt automatically. You only approve.
AI Accountant
October
Transactions categorized140
Receipts matched automatically38
Bookings created126
Deductions identified€2,480
Tax returns prefilled100%
UStVA on autopilot
Norman prepares your UStVA from live data, runs every check, and files it with the Finanzamt. You approve each submission.
Receipt
Team lunch · 84.20 €
IMG_2841.jpeg
Matched
Transaction
Oberholz · Oct 4, 2026
Card payment
Input VAT does not get lost in a shoebox
Norman links receipts to payments so deductible input VAT lands cleanly in the return and open cases stay visible.
UStVA
Q4 2026
Revenue12,000 €
Input VAT1,040 €
Reverse charge2,000 €
Payment due1,240 €
Preview before you file
Norman fills in the form lines from your bookings. You check the preview, and only your click submits the UStVA.
Tax estimate
Live3.087,22 €
The next deadlineOctober 10
Deadlines stay visible
Norman keeps filing cycles and open issues visible before the VAT return becomes a last-minute scramble.
No ELSTER certificate of your own
Norman submits your VAT return through the certified ELSTER interface. You don't need your own ELSTER account.
In short
Norman calculates VAT and input VAT continuously from your bank and receipts and fills in the UStVA form lines itself.
No
ELSTER certificate of your own: Norman submits through the certified ELSTER interface.
Free
preview: Norman checks the UStVA as an ELSTER test case first, on every plan.
from €9
a month to file with the Finanzamt.
10th
day after the month or quarter is the deadline. One month later with a permanent extension (Dauerfristverlängerung).
How does filing the VAT return with Norman work?
Input VAT, revenue, and open issues stay prepared continuously instead of being collected at the deadline.
Review
Norman flags missing receipts, edge cases, and unclear VAT bookings before they create filing gaps.
File
You check the preview with the transmission protocol. Then Norman submits the UStVA to the Finanzamt via ELSTER.
Monthly or quarterly: when do you file the UStVA?
Your previous year's VAT decides. A permanent extension (Dauerfristverlängerung) moves filing and payment back by one month.
Month
More than €9,000 VAT in the previous year: you file the UStVA every month.
Quarter
€2,000 to €9,000: you file the UStVA every quarter.
Year
Up to €2,000, the Finanzamt can exempt you. You then file only the annual VAT return.
2027
Unless the rule is extended, founders file monthly again: in the year they start and the year after. Until 2026, the expected tax decides.
VAT return software compared: Norman, sevDesk, Lexware Office and FastBill
Cheapest plan with VAT return filing for the self-employed, per month on yearly billing where offered, excluding VAT. No intro discounts. As of 28 September 2026.
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price with VAT return | €21/mo | €25.90/mo | €21.90/mo | €9/mo |
| Kleinunternehmer with reverse charge | €9/mo | €25.90/mo | ||
| No ELSTER certificate needed | ||||
| UStVA preview on the free plan | ||||
| Annual returns included: EÜR, income tax, VAT, trade tax | ||||
| Reverse charge in the VAT return | ||||
| Automatic bank sync | ||||
| Automatic receipt reading |
Plans that grow with your workflow
Start free and unlock tax, team, and automation features when you need them.
Yearly (3 months free)Monthly
Free
Core accounting features.
€0
/month (excl. VAT)
- Unlimited e-invoicing
- Tax write-off tips
- AI Autopilot
- Connect to ChatGPT & Claude
- Tax advisor access
- Norman AI usage limits
Klein
For Kleinunternehmer.
-75% for 3 months
€3€12
/month (excl. VAT), then €12
- Bank sync
- Annual tax declarations (EÜR)
- Personal income tax
- Declare salary as an employee
- EU revenue reports (ZM)
- Higher Norman AI limits
Pro
For self-employed charging VAT.
-75% for 3 months
€7€28
/month (excl. VAT), then €28
- VAT returns
- All tax declarations
- Tax efficiency score
- Receipt auto-matching
- Up to 5 bank accounts synced
- Maximum Norman AI limits
The discount applies to new customers for the first 3 months on monthly billing.
Start VAT return with Norman
Start for free and bring invoices, receipts, bookkeeping, and taxes into one workflow.
Start for freeFAQ
Can I file the German VAT return online without a tax advisor?
Yes. The UStVA is a report many self-employed people handle themselves. Norman calculates VAT and input VAT automatically from your live bookkeeping and submits the return directly to the Finanzamt.
Do I need my own ELSTER certificate?
No. Norman submits your VAT return directly to the Finanzamt, so you don't have to fill in forms in the ELSTER portal or set up your own certificate.
What are the German VAT return deadlines?
The UStVA is due by the 10th day after the end of the reporting period, monthly or quarterly depending on revenue. With a permanent deadline extension (Dauerfristverlängerung) the deadline shifts by one month. Norman reminds you before every due date.
How much does filing the UStVA with Norman cost?
Bookkeeping is free in Norman. Tax features like VAT return submission start at 9 € per month. You can start for free and upgrade only when you want to file.
Do Kleinunternehmer have to file a VAT return?
Small businesses under § 19 UStG don't charge VAT and usually don't have to file advance VAT returns. Norman recognizes your Kleinunternehmer status and sets up your bookkeeping accordingly.
Which software is best for the German VAT return?
The best VAT return software removes the typing: it reads receipts, assigns input VAT and submits directly via ELSTER. Norman does this automatically from your bank and receipts, without your own ELSTER certificate. You'll find the comparison with sevDesk, Lexware Office and FastBill above on this page.
Is there free software for the UStVA?
In the tax authority's ELSTER portal you file the UStVA for free, but you type in every figure yourself. In Norman, the preview is free on every plan. Filing needs a paid plan.
What happens if I miss the UStVA deadline?
If you file late, the Finanzamt can set a late-filing surcharge (Verspätungszuschlag). For the UStVA it is discretionary and capped at €25,000 (§ 152 AO). If you pay late, a late-payment surcharge (Säumniszuschlag) of 1% per started month applies (§ 240 AO). If you don't file at all, the Finanzamt can estimate your revenue. Norman reminds you before every deadline.
Does a GmbH or UG have to file the UStVA?
Yes, as soon as it has VAT-liable sales. The same thresholds apply as for the self-employed. Norman files the UStVA for UG and GmbH too, in the Max plan for companies.