Field help:
Business identification number
Enter the economic identification number (Wirtschafts-Identifikationsnummer) that was assigned to you by the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) for your self-employment.
The structure of the business identification number is as follows:
- It always begins with the prefix "DE".
- This is followed by 9 digits, whereby the ninth digit is always the check digit.
- After that, a hyphen is placed.
- A 5-digit distinguishing number follows at the end.
Example of a correct W-IdNr.: DE232637828-12345
The W-IdNr. is issued to all economically active persons and organisations, in particular:
- Self-employed persons and freelancers,
- Legal entities (e.g. companies),
- Personal associations (e.g. companies, owners' associations).
The W-IdNr. adds to the already existing identification numbers such as the tax number and the personal tax identification number (IdNr.), which continue to remain in effect. It serves to simplify administration and to improve the exchange of data between authorities. The tax number must continue to be used on all tax forms.
Further information about the W-IdNr. can be found on the website of the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt): www.bzst.de/widnr.
