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Knowledge · DATEV and alternatives

DATEV in brief and three ways to keep your books

DATEV is primarily a program for tax advisors. Since it’s easier and more practical for most tax advisors, we prefer to post entries in DATEV. Here’s how we access it, what the three approaches are, and which programs are suitable for your own invoices.

Request a quoteThe three options

DATEV

What DATEV is

Tax advisors use DATEV to prepare In the advance VAT return, Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung, a business reports VAT minus input VAT to the tax office monthly or quarterly., The annual financial statements close a fiscal year with a balance sheet and a profit and loss account; smaller businesses determine their profit with a cash-basis income statement instead., and tax returns, and many also use it to keep their clients’ books.

GKM has access to DATEV through our partner tax advisor. If your company already has its own tax advisor, they can grant us access to their DATEV records.

Why DATEV

Why we prefer DATEV

Most tax advisors prepare advance VAT returns, financial statements, and tax returns in DATEV. If the bookkeeping is already there, it’s easier and more practical for them. There’s no need to transfer the figures.

Your data remains your data. If the contract ends, we transfer it to you or your new advisor. We do this together with the tax advisor in whose DATEV records we posted the entries.

Three options

How we handle your bookkeeping

We’ll determine which approach is best for you during our initial consultation. DATEV is our preferred option.

01Preferred

DATEV via our partner tax advisor

We handle your bookkeeping in DATEV using our partner tax advisor’s access.

  • This means your bookkeeping data is also held by the partner tax advisor and by DATEV as the data center.
  • They can view everything, even if they do not provide any services for you themselves.
  • As a tax advisor, they are bound by professional secrecy, and they are named in our data processing agreement with you.
  • If you engage them for advance VAT returns or annual financial statements, the figures are already there.
02Your tax advisor

DATEV with your tax advisor

Do you already have a tax advisor? Then we’ll work with them.

  • Your tax advisor grants us access to their DATEV records.
  • We handle the bookkeeping directly there.
  • They continue working with the same figures, without having to transfer them.
  • Alternatively, we send them your bookkeeping data in DATEV format.
03Without DATEV

Lexware Office

Don’t want to use DATEV for your bookkeeping? Then we’ll handle your bookkeeping in Lexware Office.

  • This is a good fit if you already create your invoices in Lexware Office.
  • You’ll sign the contract with the provider yourself and set up an account for us there.
  • Your tax advisor will receive the figures for advance VAT returns and annual financial statements.

No matter which option you choose: GKM handles the The chart of accounts is the list of all accounts a business posts to, usually based on SKR03 or SKR04., day-to-day accounting entries, payroll, and In the wage tax return, Lohnsteuer-Anmeldung, the employer reports the wage tax withheld from employees to the tax office, usually monthly.. Advance VAT returns, annual financial statements, and tax returns are prepared by the tax advisor, whom you engage directly.

Alternatives

Software for your own invoices

You can create invoices and collect receipts using a program of your choice. Many programs export data in DATEV format; during our initial consultation, we’ll determine whether you can continue using your current program.

01

Rekana Rechnung

Our own program for quotes, invoices, and e-invoices, plus bank statements and receipts, €7.99 net a month. At the end of the month, you provide your tax advisor with invoices and bank transactions as files.

Learn more
02

Lexware Office

Software for invoices and bookkeeping for small businesses. If you already create your invoices there, we can also handle your bookkeeping in Lexware Office.

03

sevdesk

Software for invoices and bookkeeping for small businesses. If you use this software, we’ll clarify during our initial consultation how your data will be transferred to us.

The names mentioned are trademarks of their respective manufacturers.

Guide: DATEV, Lexware Office, or sevdesk

Questions

Frequently asked questions about DATEV

Who can see my data if you keep my books through the partner tax advisor?

GKM, the partner tax advisor, and DATEV as the data center that processes the data on their behalf. The partner tax advisor can view your bookkeeping even if they don’t take on any work for you themselves. As a tax advisor, they are bound by professional secrecy, and they are named in our data processing agreement with you. More in our privacy policy.

My tax advisor uses DATEV. Do I have to switch?

No. We work with them, have them grant us access, and post entries directly in their DATEV records.

Why do you prefer DATEV?

Because that’s where most tax advisors work. The figures are then right where advance VAT returns, financial statements, and tax returns are prepared.

Can I switch from Lexware Office to DATEV later?

Yes. The easiest time to do so is at the end of a month or quarter. We’ll discuss the process with you and your tax advisor.

What happens to the data when the contract ends?

In that case, we transfer the data to you or your new advisor. In DATEV, we do this together with the tax advisor in whose records we posted the entries. With Lexware Office, the bookkeeping is in your own account with the provider and stays with you.

Read more

Related

Ongoing bookkeeping

Reconciled monthly in DATEV or Lexware Office, custom pricing on request.

Learn more

Working with your tax advisor

Who handles what and how the collaboration works.

Learn more

Rekana Rechnung

Order our software for invoices, bank statements, and receipts directly.

Learn more

Contact

Let’s talk about your bookkeeping.

During our initial consultation, we’ll determine what your business needs. Afterward, you’ll receive a binding quote via email.

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