Early Payment Discount (Skonto) on German Invoices 2026: How to Offer and Book It Correctly

Skonto — the German early-payment discount — is the simplest lever for getting paid faster. You give customers a 2-3 % discount for paying within a few days, and your money lands in days instead of weeks. Sounds simple, but the bookkeeping and VAT side can trip you up. Here's how to offer, formulate, book and VAT-adjust Skonto correctly in 2026 — for both freelancers using EÜR and GmbHs running double-entry books.

What Skonto is and why offer it?

Skonto is a percentage discount for early payment. The standard in Germany is 2 % for payment within 7 or 14 days, against a 30-day net term. Why offer it as the seller: better liquidity, fewer payment-reminder cycles and stronger B2B relationships — many corporate buyers actively use Skonto and value the offer.

The cost: a 2 % discount for paying 14 days early implies an effective annual yield of around 36 %. You're paying for speed with margin — a deliberate cash-flow tool, not a giveaway.

Typical Skonto rates and terms 2026

Common B2B terms in Germany:

• 2 % / 7 days net 30 — the classic
• 3 % / 10 days net 30 — for larger amounts
• 2 % / 14 days net 30 — for longer payment terms

Skonto is voluntary — there is no legal obligation to offer it. But once you do offer it, the terms must be unambiguous.

How to formulate Skonto on the invoice

For Skonto to be legally valid, it must be stated in the payment terms on the invoice. Example wording:

Payable within 30 days net. 2 % discount for payment within 7 days of the invoice date.

What doesn't work: vague phrasing like "Skonto possible". Both the percentage and the deadline must be precise. The other mandatory invoice fields still apply.

VAT correction under § 17 UStG

As soon as the customer takes the Skonto, the taxable base changes. Under § 17 UStG you must correct VAT accordingly:

• As the supplier — you reduce the VAT you owe
• The customer — reduces their input VAT deduction by the same amount

The correction is recorded in the VAT period in which the Skonto is actually taken — not retroactively. No credit note or cancellation invoice is required: the bank statement showing the discounted payment is sufficient evidence.

Booking Skonto — EÜR vs. GmbH

In the EÜR (self-employed):

1. Book the original invoice as full income
2. When payment with Skonto arrives: record the Skonto amount as a revenue reduction and adjust VAT down

In the GmbH (double-entry):

1. Receivable booked at full value
2. On receipt: Bank to Receivable (reduced) + account "Gewährte Skonti" (SKR03 #8730 / SKR04 #4730) + VAT correction

A modern AI accounting tool handles these adjustments automatically — manual Skonto corrections are a common source of audit findings.

Skonto vs. discount — what's the difference?

Both reduce the final price, but:

• Rabatt (discount) is given before the deal (e.g. volume discount, loyalty rebate). It appears as a deduction on the invoice itself.
• Skonto is given after the deal — depending on how the customer pays.

Result: a Rabatt reduces the taxable base from the start. Skonto only kicks in if the customer takes it.

Pros and cons of offering Skonto

Pros:

• Faster payment, better cash-flow planning
• Fewer overdue receivables and reminder cycles
• Competitive edge in B2B sales

Cons:

• Margin loss — risky on thin-margin work
• Customers sometimes deduct Skonto even after the deadline (a frequent dispute)
• Extra bookkeeping work for the VAT correction

Conclusion

Skonto is a proven liquidity lever, but it isn't free. If you offer it, write the terms clearly on the invoice, run the VAT correction under § 17 UStG cleanly, and use accounting software that automates the discount postings.

With Norman you create e-invoices with clear Skonto terms and book Skonto corrections automatically — GDPR- and GoBD-compliant.