VAT Filing Software 2026: 7 Tools Compared (Germany)

Every month or quarter, the same routine: gather your sales, add up the input VAT, work out what you owe, and submit it all to the tax office through ELSTER on time. The advance VAT return (UStVA) costs many freelancers and GmbH directors hours every month — yet the right software handles most of it automatically.

But not every tool that advertises an "ELSTER interface" actually files the return at the push of a button. Some only export a file you have to upload yourself. Others fail to detect the input VAT in your receipts, so you end up typing every line by hand.

In this comparison we look at 7 UStVA tools for 2026 and rate them on price, real ELSTER submission, input-VAT detection, filing extensions and nil returns — so you, as a business owner, can find the tool that genuinely takes the return off your plate.

What matters in VAT filing software

Before comparing tools, know which features separate "saves time" from "just moves the typing around":

• Direct ELSTER submission: The software sends the return to the tax office itself — no manual upload, no fiddling with ELSTER certificates. How the form works in detail is covered in our UStVA guide.
• Automatic input-VAT detection: From each receipt, the tool reads the VAT and assigns it to the correct field (e.g. code 66).
• Deadline tracking: You get reminded in time — for monthly, quarterly filing or with a filing extension.
• One-click nil return: Even with no turnover in a period, you must file. Good software turns that into a nil return at the push of a button.
• Small-business aware: If you use the Kleinunternehmer scheme, you don't file a UStVA at all — the tool should account for that.

Norman — automatic VAT filing, free bookkeeping

Norman is built precisely for this workflow: receipts are read by AI, the input VAT is detected automatically, and the UStVA is pre-filled with the right field codes. At the push of a button the return goes straight to the tax office via the ELSTER interface — including nil returns and deadline reminders.

The clever part is the pricing: invoicing and bookkeeping are free and unlimited with Norman. You only pay for tax filing — plans that include UStVA submission start at €12/month (Klein plan). For solo freelancers with a manageable volume of receipts, that's the cheapest option with genuine automation. Details under Taxes for the Self-Employed and AI Bookkeeping.

Lexware Office, sevDesk & FastBill — the bookkeeping suites

The established all-in-one tools handle UStVA, but bundle it into larger bookkeeping packages:

• Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice): UStVA submission straight from the software, from around €9/month on the entry tier. Full input-VAT automation only kicks in on higher tiers.
• sevDesk: Solid ELSTER integration, but UStVA only appears in the bookkeeping tier from around €20/month (billed annually). The pure invoicing tier doesn't include it.
• FastBill: UStVA from the mid tier (around €19/month), with decent receipt recognition in the Pro package.

All three are mature, but you pay for a full bookkeeping suite — even if all you want is to file the return. More in our accounting software comparison.

WISO & Accountable — desktop and app

• WISO MeinBüro / WISO Steuer: The classic from Buhl. WISO MeinBüro reliably submits the UStVA to the tax office, from around €8/month on the web subscription. Strong if you're already in the WISO ecosystem for taxes.
• Accountable: App-first, popular with freelancers. UStVA submission in the Pro version (from around €20/month), with a limited free tier.

Both handle the return, but each is tailored to its ecosystem (desktop and mobile app, respectively).

ELSTER — the free route from the tax office

ELSTER is the tax authority's official portal and completely free. You can fill in and submit the UStVA there directly. The catch: you do everything by hand. No receipt scanning, no automatic input VAT, no deadline alarm. For micro-businesses with two or three invoices a quarter it works — but as soon as receipts pile up regularly, manual entry eats more time than a tool costs.

At a glance

Tool	UStVA submission	Input VAT automatic	Price (approx.)
Norman	direct via ELSTER	yes, via AI	bookkeeping free, tax from €12/month
Lexware Office	direct	partly	from €9/month
sevDesk	direct	yes	from €20/month
FastBill	direct	yes	from €19/month
WISO MeinBüro	direct	partly	from €8/month
Accountable	direct	yes	from €20/month
ELSTER	manual	no	free

As of 2026; prices and tier thresholds vary by provider and billing period.

Software or a tax advisor?

For the UStVA alone you almost never need a tax advisor — it's a routine filing that software automates reliably. An advisor pays off more for annual accounts and complex planning questions. If you're weighing it up, see Tax advisor vs. software.

Conclusion

The best VAT filing software is the one that genuinely takes the typing off your hands — reading receipts, assigning the input VAT automatically and submitting to the tax office at the push of a button. ELSTER is free but fully manual. The bookkeeping suites Lexware Office, sevDesk and FastBill do everything, but charge for the full package. If you mainly want automatic VAT filing without paying separately for bookkeeping, Norman is the cheapest option with real automation: free bookkeeping, UStVA filing from €12/month. Try it under Taxes for the Self-Employed.