VAT return software in Germany for Amazon sellers: how to choose

Good software takes over your Amazon and eBay figures, prepares the advance VAT return for your period and submits it via ELSTER. Check five things: data source, period, sending, other returns and a preview. ELSTER itself lists which programs support ELSTER: 636 products.

Only VAT GPT sends all three returns itself. Of the tools we compare, according to the providers' own pages (checked 3 November 2026), only VAT GPT submits the OSS return itself to the BZSt, plus the VAT advance return and the annual VAT return via ELSTER to the tax office, calculated from your Amazon and eBay reports. You do not have to go into Mein ELSTER or the BZStOnline portal yourself. With the others, you upload the OSS file in the BZStOnline portal yourself, or a tax adviser or the provider's service files it for you. Sending needs Pro. OSS software compared

Last updated: 29 October 2026

The essentials in brief

Sending: The advance return goes to the tax office in the officially prescribed data format through the officially designated interface (section 18(1) UStG).
Period: The advance-return period is the calendar quarter; with more than EUR 9,000 tax in the previous year it is the calendar month.
List: ELSTER lists 636 software products whose manufacturers state that they support ELSTER.
Without software: In Mein ELSTER you fill in the advance VAT return in your browser.

Which software files the advance VAT return?

ELSTER’s list “Softwareprodukte, die ELSTER unterstützen” (software products that support ELSTER) shows it: filter by “Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung” (advance VAT return). The manufacturers have stated to ELSTER that their software supports ELSTER. Whether a software also takes over your marketplace data is not shown there: ask the manufacturer or use a trial version. Rate changes are logged in EU VAT rate changes 2024 to 2026: a dated log.

What this means for you: Use ELSTER's list to find software for the advance return, and check separately whether it reads your marketplace data.

Five questions to check software

Whoever has to file an advance VAT return transmits it in the officially prescribed data format through the officially designated interface (section 18(1) sentence 1 UStG). Only on application can the tax office waive electronic transmission to avoid undue hardship (section 18(1) sentence 2 UStG).

Do your figures come from Amazon or eBay? Check whether the software can read your reports, for example the Amazon transaction report. How that works is on the page German advance VAT return from the Amazon VAT transactions report.
Does the advance-return period fit? The period is the calendar quarter. With more than EUR 9,000 tax in the previous calendar year it is the calendar month, and special rules apply to business starters (section 18(2) UStG). Deadlines and the permanent extension are explained on German advance VAT return (UStVA): filing online, deadlines and permanent extension.
Does the software send itself, or only prepare? In Mein ELSTER you can upload the XML file of software that can create such a file. So ask: is the return sent, or do you upload a file yourself?
Does it cover your other returns? If you sell to EU customers you may need the OSS return. Details: OSS return for online sellers.
Can you check the figures before anything is sent? A preview showing what you pay or get refunded belongs here. More on the ELSTER alternative.

What this means for you: Ask the five questions before you pick a program, especially whether you can check the figures before sending.

Three kinds of solutions

For Amazon sellers there are roughly three kinds of solutions. They solve different tasks; which fits depends on who does your bookkeeping and who files the returns. You can also read about OSS return in Germany without a tax adviser.

Kind	What it does	Fits if
Accounting software	prepares receipts and marketplace data and exports them, for example to your tax adviser	your tax adviser files the returns
Service with tax advisers	advisers check, book and file the returns	you want to hand the work over
Tax software that sends itself	calculates from your reports and submits via ELSTER	you want to file the returns yourself

For comparison: with few sales the form in Mein ELSTER is often enough. More on that is on the page ELSTER yourself or software?.

What this means for you: Choose among the three kinds by who does your bookkeeping and who files your returns.

Common mistakes

Looking only at the list. A product being on ELSTER’s list does not tell you whether it reads your Amazon reports.
Forgetting the period. If your period changes from quarterly to monthly, the software has to handle that.
Checking only the advance return. If you have EU customers, think of the OSS return as well.
Not testing. Run one real month through before you commit.

If a filing is refused, see OSS Return Rejected: Error Messages and Causes.

What this means for you: Test one real month, and do not rely only on the list.

How it works with VAT GPT

VAT GPT is the tax software for online sellers, freelancers and small businesses in Germany. It calculates and files in one place, in this order:

your OSS return
VAT
EÜR
trade tax
income tax

VAT GPT is listed in the ELSTER software directory; the entries there come from the manufacturer.

Upload files: your Amazon or eBay report as a CSV file and your invoices. The AI reads amounts, countries and tax rates.
Check the result: VAT GPT breaks down the VAT for Germany and the EU (OSS) and prepares the advance return, monthly or quarterly. You check and confirm.
Send: with VAT GPT Pro via ELSTER directly to the tax office, the OSS return directly to the BZSt.

No tax advice

VAT GPT is not tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

Which software files the advance VAT return? Software that supports ELSTER and handles the form. ELSTER’s list of 636 products can be filtered by “Umsatzsteuer-Voranmeldung”. VAT GPT sends the advance return with Pro via ELSTER.

Is Mein ELSTER enough? With few sales often yes. Mein ELSTER offers the advance VAT return as a form in the browser. More: ELSTER yourself or software?.

How often do I file the advance return? Usually quarterly. With more than EUR 9,000 tax in the previous calendar year, monthly (section 18(2) UStG).

Can I upload my software’s file to Mein ELSTER? Yes, if the software can create an XML file, you can upload it for the advance VAT return in Mein ELSTER.