DIY Route

Preparing German financial statements without a tax advisor

There is a widespread assumption that a German Jahresabschluss must go through a Steuerberater. It doesn't — no law requires a tax advisor to prepare the statements. This page sets out what you can legally do yourself, especially for micro and small entities, what you need to get it right, and where a professional still genuinely adds value.

Can you legally prepare them yourself?

Yes. The obligation in §§ 242, 264 HGB is that the legal representatives — the Geschäftsführer of a GmbH, for instance — draw up the statements. It does not require a tax advisor to do so. You may prepare and file the Jahresabschluss yourself or with software, provided it complies with HGB.

The one place the law does insert a professional is the audit: medium and large corporations must have the finished accounts audited by a Wirtschaftsprüfer (§ 316). Small and micro companies are not subject to any statutory audit, which is precisely why the DIY route is realistic for them. Cooperatives (eG) are a special case — they are audited by their Prüfungsverband under § 53 GenG regardless of size.

Where the DIY route works best

The self-preparation route is most attractive for micro and small entities: no mandatory audit, condensed disclosure, and often a relatively simple balance sheet. A micro entity may even omit the Anhang by showing a few figures beneath the balance sheet (§ 264 Abs. 1 Satz 5), and a small company files a reduced set without the GuV publicly disclosed.

Owner-managed GmbHs, UGs, holding companies with few transactions, and dormant companies (which still must file) are typical candidates. The larger and more complex the entity — deferred taxes, pensions, intercompany structures — the more a professional's judgement earns its fee.

What you need to do it well

  • A properly closed set of books and a final trial balance (Summen- und Saldenliste) for the year.
  • Your size class under §§ 267 / 267a, which sets the disclosure scope you owe.
  • Software or knowledge to map the trial balance to § 266 / § 275 positions and produce a compliant Anhang.
  • The prior-year figures, so the comparison column and opening balances agree to last year's filing.
  • An eye on the deadlines: prepare within 3 months (medium/large) or 6 months (small/micro), file within 12 months (§ 325), and remember penalties start at €2,500 (§ 335).

How software closes the knowledge gap

The reason self-preparation used to be daunting is the specialist knowledge: which HGB position each account belongs to, which notes your size class requires, how the E-Bilanz is structured. Software carries that knowledge, so you supply the numbers and review the output rather than memorising the Commercial Code.

Our software maps your trial balance, applies the size-class disclosure rules, drafts the Anhang from your actual figures, and produces the E-Bilanz and a filing-ready set — with everything reviewable before you commit. You keep control and responsibility; the software removes the manual assembly and the risk of missing a required disclosure.

Where a Steuerberater still helps

The statutory audit

Medium and large companies must be audited by a Wirtschaftsprüfer, and cooperatives by their Prüfungsverband. That is a professional engagement you cannot self-perform.

Complex positions

Deferred taxes, pension provisions, complicated intercompany or financing arrangements, and unusual valuation questions are where an advisor's judgement is worth paying for.

Tax integration

The link between the commercial and tax balance sheets (Maßgeblichkeit, § 5 EStG) and the corporate tax return is a natural place to keep an advisor involved, even if you prepare the HGB statement yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Do I legally need a tax advisor for German financial statements?

No. HGB requires the company's legal representatives to draw up the statements, not a tax advisor. You can prepare and file them yourself or with software. Only the audit of medium and large companies must be performed by a professional (a Wirtschaftsprüfer).

Which companies can most easily do it themselves?

Micro and small entities, because they face no statutory audit and file a reduced disclosure set. Owner-managed GmbHs and UGs, small holdings and dormant companies are typical DIY cases. Larger or more complex entities benefit more from professional support.

Is a small GmbH's Jahresabschluss audited?

No. Only medium and large corporations must be audited under § 316. Small and micro companies are exempt, so a small GmbH can prepare and file without an auditor — though a cooperative (eG) is always audited by its Prüfungsverband.

What are the risks of doing it without an advisor?

The main risks are misclassifying accounts, missing a required disclosure for your size class, or missing a deadline — late filing draws penalties from €2,500 (§ 335). Software that applies HGB structure, size-class rules and deadline logic substantially reduces these risks.

Where does a Steuerberater still add value?

For the mandatory audit (via a Wirtschaftsprüfer), for complex positions like deferred taxes or pensions, and for the interface with the tax return. Many owners self-prepare the routine statement and keep an advisor for those specific areas.