Apply for a business identification number (W-IdNr.)

    When you start a business activity, you will be given a business identification number (W-IdNr.).

    Description

    In the future, the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) will assign a business identification number (W-IdNr.) to each economically active person in addition to the tax identification number (IdNr.).

    Tax authorities will thus be able to correctly assign economically active legal entities to the respective natural persons.

    The W-IdNr. will consist of the letters 'DE' and 9 digits and thus correspond in its form to the value added tax identification number (USt-IdNr.).

    The BZSt will issue a W-IdNr. at the request of the competent tax authority and notify you without you having to submit an application.

    Notice:
    The W-IdNr. is currently not yet issued. Information will be made available to you in good time before it is introduced.


    Contact person

    Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt)

    Address

    address

    Hauptsitz Bonn-Beuel

    An der Küppe 1

    53225 Bonn

    Save contact

    Opening hours

    Monday: 09:00 - 16:00 Tuesday: 09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday: 09:00 - 16:00 Thursday: 09:00 - 16:00 Friday: 09:00 - 16:00

    Contact

    Internet

    Keywords

    BZSt

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 09.07.2024

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English

    Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt), Referat St III 1

    Address

    address

    An der Küppe 1

    53225 Bonn

    Save contact

    Opening hours

    Montag bis Freitag: 8:00 Uhr bis 16:00 Uhr

    Contact

    Internet

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 08.05.2023

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Required documents

    none

    Forms

    • Forms: no
    • Online procedure possible: no
    • Written form required: no
    • Personal appearance required: no

    The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) will issue a business identification number (W-IdNr.) at the request of the competent tax authority and communicate this to the economic operator without the need for an application.

    Prerequisites

    The business identification number (W-IdNr.) is issued to:

    • natural persons who are economically active
    • legal persons
    • associations of persons

    none

    Procedure

    The Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) will issue a business identification number (W-IdNr.) at the request of the relevant tax authority and notify you; you do not need to submit an application yourself.

    Notice:
    The W-IdNr. is currently not yet issued. Further information will be made available in good time before the introduction.


    Deadlines

    none

    Processing time

    none

    Costs

    none

    Further Information

    Area of validity

    Germany-wide

    Official approval

    Officially approved by Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) on 31.05.2021

    Version

    Technisch geändert on 09.09.2025

    Keywords

    Federal Central Tax Office

    Language version

    Deutsch

    Sprache: de

    Englisch

    Sprache: en

    Sprachbezeichnung nativ:

    English