1 → 2 split
In Germany
Your local Finanzamt — one per district, run by the federal state. Your tax identification number comes separately, from the federal BZSt.
1 → 2 split
Who does what
Finanzamt (Local tax office)Income tax assessment and collection · VAT administration
Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (Federal central tax office)Issuing tax identification numbers
Main similarities
- Assessing and collecting income tax
- Administering VAT
- Auditing declarations
Main differences
- Customs and excise are the Zoll's, not the Finanzamt's
- There is one Finanzamt per district, not one national office
- The tax ID is federal and lifelong; the Finanzamt's own tax number is not
Function by functionShowHide
Function by function
01 · Income tax assessment and collectionDirection Générale des Impôts → FinanzamtClose
02 · VAT administrationDirection Générale des Impôts → FinanzamtClose
03 · Issuing tax identification numbersDirection Générale des Impôts → Bundeszentralamt für SteuernClose
The lifelong tax identification number comes from the BZSt, not from the Finanzamt you deal with.
Ecwevo describes how systems correspond in practice. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice.