Aktuelle Sprache: en
Assistant tax consultant - Applying for recognition of a foreign professional qualification
You have a foreign professional qualification as a tax clerk or assistant tax clerk. Would you like to work permanently in this profession in Germany? Then you can have your foreign professional qualification officially recognised.
Please note: Your qualification must be state-recognised in the country in which you trained. Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be officially recognised in Germany.
The procedure for recognition is called: Equivalence assessment.
To apply for an equivalence assessment, you must identify a German training qualification or further education qualification. This is the so-called reference occupation. It must match your foreign professional qualification. You should obtain advice before submitting your application.
When determining equivalence, the competent authority compares your qualification with a specific German qualification. Important criteria for the comparison are the content and duration of the training.
You will receive a decision on the result of the procedure. The decision will state any existing and any missing professional qualifications. The decision enables employers to better evaluate your professional qualifications.
You can also apply for equivalence assessment from abroad.
Procedure
1. application: You submit an application for equivalence assessment to the competent authority.
You can hand in the application with the documents to the relevant authority, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send any originals by post.
2. examination of equivalence: The competent authority then checks: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the German professional qualification? The competent authority compares the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are the content and duration of the training. The competent authority will also take your professional experience, other certificates of competence and qualifications into account when assessing equivalence.
3. possible results of the examination:
Please note: Your qualification must be state-recognised in the country in which you trained. Informal or non-formal qualifications cannot be officially recognised in Germany.
The procedure for recognition is called: Equivalence assessment.
To apply for an equivalence assessment, you must identify a German training qualification or further education qualification. This is the so-called reference occupation. It must match your foreign professional qualification. You should obtain advice before submitting your application.
When determining equivalence, the competent authority compares your qualification with a specific German qualification. Important criteria for the comparison are the content and duration of the training.
You will receive a decision on the result of the procedure. The decision will state any existing and any missing professional qualifications. The decision enables employers to better evaluate your professional qualifications.
You can also apply for equivalence assessment from abroad.
Procedure
1. application: You submit an application for equivalence assessment to the competent authority.
You can hand in the application with the documents to the relevant authority, send it by post or upload it electronically. Do not send any originals by post.
2. examination of equivalence: The competent authority then checks: Is your professional qualification equivalent to the German professional qualification? The competent authority compares the qualifications using certain criteria. Important criteria are the content and duration of the training. The competent authority will also take your professional experience, other certificates of competence and qualifications into account when assessing equivalence.
3. possible results of the examination:
- a.) You will receive a notification with the result of the procedure. You will be recognised if your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent.
- b.) Sometimes there are significant differences between the professional qualifications. The differences are listed in your notification. You can use this decision to obtain further qualifications and later submit a new application for equivalence assessment.
- c.) If your professional qualification is not equivalent at all, you will not be recognised.
Sie können diese Dienstleistung auch online in Anspruch nehmen
Online processing
-
StBK - Application portal of the chambers of tax consultants
To use the online application, you have to register with a citizen account (BundID) for the first time and can then log in with your access data.
You need a BundID account with at least a low level of trust (user name & password).
Prerequisites
- You want to work in Berlin.
- You have a state-recognised professional qualification from another country in the field of tax consultancy or auditing.
- Your professional qualification from another country is equivalent to a German qualification as a tax clerk.
Documents required
-
Application for recognition as an assistant tax consultant
Online possible or in writing by post -
If applicable, evidence of previous applications for equivalence assessment
If you have already submitted an application for equivalence assessment, documents relating to previous applications for equivalence assessment submitted to other competent authorities as simple copies. -
Proof of identity
Suitable proof of identity is, for example, a passport (passport substitute), all European identity cards or a convention passport as a simple copy.
Your proof was not issued in German? Then please also enclose a German translation.
The following information must be written in Latin characters on the document, e.g. in the translation of the proof of identity: Surname, first name, place of birth, date of birth. The proof of identity should include a photo of you and your signature.
The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. -
If applicable, proof of name change
If your first name or surname no longer matches the name on your professional qualification certificate (e.g. due to marriage, naturalisation, change of gender or similar reasons), please enclose a simple copy of the official proof of the completed name change here. This can be a birth certificate, marriage certificate, naturalisation certificate or other suitable proof of the name change.
Was your proof not issued in German? Then please also enclose a German translation. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. -
Curriculum vitae
The curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé should provide a tabular overview of your:
1. training programmes ( professional training, academic training, school education)
2. further training
3. previous jobs
The CV must be written in German. -
Training certificates
Submit your proof of professional qualification in the original language as a single copy. This can be, for example: examination and degree certificates, professional certificate, diploma certificate, Bachelor's and/or Master's certificate or comparable documents. If available, please also enclose evidence of the content and duration of your training. These can be, for example Diploma Supplement, the Transcript of Records, the Relevé de Notes, the study book, the examination regulations as well as subject and grade overviews or comparable documents.
Your certificate was not issued in German? Then please also enclose a German or English translation of your degree certificate as a certified copy. Supplementary documents relating to the degrees/certificates (e.g. course catalogue, examination regulations, subject overviews) in German or English translation as a single copy. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. -
Proof of your relevant professional experience
Certification of the type and duration of your relevant professional experience in the original language. This includes, for example, references, work books, professional training or comparable documents.
Your certificate was not issued in German? Then please also enclose a simple copy of a German or English translation. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. -
Only for persons who are not nationals of the EU/EEA/Switzerland or who live outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
In addition to the declaration of intention to take up gainful employment, proof is required that credibly demonstrates that you actually intend to take up gainful employment in Berlin (suitable proof is, for example, the application for an entry visa for gainful employment, proof of contact with potential employers) in a single copy. -
If applicable, further evidence
- You may need to submit further documents during the recognition procedure. The competent authority will inform you.
Fees
EUR 100.00 to EUR 600.00 per effort
Legal basis
Average time to process request
approx. 1- 3 months if all documents are complete
More information
- Information from the responsible Chamber of Tax Consultants of Lower Saxony
- Information on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications on the portal Recognition in Germany (Anerkennung in Deutschland)
- Financial support for the recognition procedure
- Publicly appointed translators in Germany
- Proceedings under the Federal Expellee Act
Hinweise zur Zuständigkeit
You apply for recognition from the competent authority in the federal state in which you wish to work. The chambers of tax consultants are normally responsible for training professions in the field of auditing and tax consultancy.
If you would like to work as a tax assistant in the federal state of Berlin, apply for recognition at the competent Steuerberaterkammer Niedersachsen - Adenauerallee 20 in 30175 Hannover. This office is responsible for several federal states, including for recognition procedures for the federal state of Berlin.