Accountants for foreign clients in Germany

Accountanty lists 156 firms in Germany, and 131 of them say they work with foreign clients. The useful question is not whether a firm takes foreign clients but which ones: a practice used to freelancers and expats filing personal returns works differently from one that runs the German subsidiary of a group.

Accountants for foreign clients in Germany

107 more accountants for foreign clients in Germany

Choosing a German firm as an owner abroad

Start with your structure. The legal forms these firms name most often are the GmbH, followed by subsidiaries, branches and holding companies, so ask each candidate how many companies like yours it looks after. Then ask who your contact will be, whether that person is a Steuerberater, and in which language the monthly figures and the letters from the tax office will be explained to you. Germany Trade & Invest states that the nationality and residence of GmbH shareholders and managing directors are irrelevant, but the company needs a German business address and a local representative, so ask how the firm covers both. Ask what can be signed remotely and which steps need a notary. The Germany guide covers the legal steps, and company formation in Germany covers choosing a firm to carry them out.

The firms on this list

The 131 are 121 accounting firms, five law firms and five corporate service providers. Their working languages are led by German (124) and English (107), then Polish (17), French (13), Italian (12) and Russian (11). Private individuals are the client group named most often, by 18 firms, then freelancers (14) and start-ups (13). Among sectors, real estate stands out, named by 49 firms. By city, Berlin holds 41 of the 131, Munich 33, Frankfurt 29 and Hamburg 19. To describe your case once, send a quote request and Accountanty passes it to the firms that fit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a German GmbH with a local accountant while living abroad?

Many owners do. Of the 156 firms Accountanty lists in Germany, 131 say they work with foreign clients. Agree in writing who approves payments and returns, and which steps need you or a notary in person.

Which languages do German accountants for foreign clients offer?

Nearly all 131 work in German (124 firms), and 107 also work in English. Polish, French, Italian and Russian follow, each offered by a smaller group, and a few firms work in Chinese, Turkish or Spanish.

Do these German firms serve companies or private clients?

Both. Private individuals, freelancers and start-ups are the groups named most often, and several firms name SMEs, expats and foreign investors. Check that a firm's usual clients have needs close to yours before you engage it.

Services in Germany

Accountants by city in Germany

Setting up a company in Germany: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.