The questionnaire for tax registration is the form you use to register with the tax office when you start your self-employed activity. This article is therefore intended exclusively for new founders. If you already have a tax number and have been registered as self-employed with the tax office for some time, you will not find a questionnaire in the WebApp – this is completely normal.
If smarta has handled your tax registration for you, you can view your submitted questionnaire directly in the WebApp and download the corresponding ELSTER submission protocol.
What is the tax registration questionnaire?
With this questionnaire you register your newly founded self-employed or business activity with the tax office. Based on it, the tax office issues your tax number and defines how you are handled for tax going forward (for example VAT and prepayments).
When is it needed?
The questionnaire is needed once, at founding – right at the start of your self-employed activity. Existing customers who already have a tax number don't need it and won't see it in the web app. If you asked smarta to handle your registration, we fill in the questionnaire for you and submit it to the tax office – you don't need to complete anything yourself in the web app.
How to find your submitted questionnaire
Open the smarta web app.
In the left navigation, click Downloads.
Select the Tax registration questionnaire card.
There you'll see your submitted questionnaire with the submission date.
Click Download ELSTER protocol to save the transmission protocol as a PDF.
Common questions
I don't see a questionnaire.
That's normal if you're not a new founder. The questionnaire is only created for a new tax registration. If you already have a tax number, there's nothing to show here. If you've just founded your business and smarta is handling the registration, your questionnaire appears once we've submitted it to the tax office.
What is the ELSTER protocol?
It's the official confirmation that your questionnaire was transmitted electronically to the tax office. Keep it for your records.
Do you need support?
For our clients:
Feel free to reach out to us anytime at kontakt-team@smarta-steuern.de or book a consultation here – we're here for you!
Not a smarta client yet? No problem!
Book an appointment here for our comprehensive startup package or a consultation if you only have questions about specific topics.
Further questions?
Contact us via the app or by email at kontakt-team@smarta-steuern.de if you want to learn more about our consulting services or have other tax-related concerns.