One of the lesser known parts of the German tax system is simply called the “ZM”, which stands for “Zusammenfassende Meldung”. For anyone running a business in Germany, it is another form to fill in on a regular basis.
It all has to do with the VAT (Value Added Tax) system within the European Union. Put quite simply, if you buy something in a shop or pay for a service, then you pay VAT. For consumers, that’s the end of the story. The shop owner or service provider pays the VAT on to the tax office.
But if the customer is a business as well, they usually have a way to claim that tax back again from their local tax office (although there are some exceptions). [Read more…]
On my last visit to Lanzarote I managed to leave something behind – my SIM card that I had swapped over during our stay so as to use one that offered cheaper internet access. Either I left it behind in the flat that we were staying in, or it dropped out of my hand luggage when I was sorting out our flight tickets. I only realised when I got back to Germany.