Invoicing as a small business, in Germany and Austria
For small businesses in Germany and Austria: Spoonbill prints the right note on every invoice, keeps an eye on your turnover limit and tells you from which invoice VAT applies.
- Germany: §19 UStG
- Austria: §6 (1) 27 UStG 1994
- The limit in view
What Spoonbill checks for you
Choose small business once
In Settings you choose your country's rule. From then on, no invoice carries VAT.
One question a year
On the year's first invoice, Spoonbill asks about last year's turnover — one answer, then it leaves you alone.
The invoice that crosses the limit
Spoonbill keeps count. Before the limit you get a heads-up, and the invoice above it goes out with VAT.
Germany and Austria, each by its own rule
The note on the invoice and the limit follow the country you are based in.
§19 UStG
Limit: €25,000 last year and €100,000 this year; a heads-up from €90,000.
§6 Abs. 1 Z 27 UStG 1994
Limit: €55,000, with the 10% tolerance in the current year.
What Spoonbill handles for small businesses
The note, word for word
The sentence your country's law asks for is on every invoice.
In the e-invoice too
The note is in the XML just as on the PDF.
Asked once a year
Last year's turnover, confirmed on the year's first invoice.
A heads-up before the limit
You see how close the next invoice takes you to the limit.
Switch from that invoice
The invoice over the limit carries VAT, the ones before it do not.
In seven languages
The invoice in your client's language, the note in the law's own words.
Questions
Which limits does Spoonbill check?
In Germany €25,000 last year and €100,000 this year, with a heads-up from €90,000. In Austria €55,000, with the 10% tolerance.
What happens when I cross the limit?
Spoonbill tells you when you send the invoice that crosses it. That invoice and every one after it show VAT.
Is the small-business note in the e-invoice too?
Yes. The XML carries the same note as the PDF.
Where are the rules themselves?
In our guides to invoicing in Germany and in Austria. This page shows what the app does; it is not tax advice.
Small business, no sums to do.
Choose your rule once — Spoonbill takes care of the note and the limit.