The e-balance sheet (E-Bilanz) is the electronic submission of a company’s annual balance sheet and profit and loss statement to the German tax office (Finanzamt). Since 2013, most businesses in Germany have been legally required to file these reports digitally using a standardized format (taxonomy).
Who is required to submit an E-Bilanz?
All companies that prepare financial statements are obliged to submit an e-balance sheet. The people who prepare the financial statements are
- Freelancers who keep books voluntarily
- Farmers and foresters are required to keep accounts, or those who voluntarily prepare financial statements
- Merchants under the German Commercial Code (HGB), unless they are exempted
- Corporations
- Businesspeople required to keep accounts, or those who voluntarily do so
- Anyone transitioning from the income statement (EÜR) to a full balance sheet due to business closure or sale
- Businesses switching from EÜR to the balance sheet method (e.g., GmbH startup)
Synonyms:
E-balance sheet
