How do I switch from my current accounting firm to you?

You terminate the existing mandate, and we take care of the rest. We request the prior year's documents: bookkeeping data, last annual financial statement, asset register, opening balances, and payroll accounts. The switch is possible at any time, but it's cleanest at the turn of the year or quarter, since no accounting period is then split.

Do I need to sort my receipts?

Pre-sorted by bank, cash, incoming and outgoing invoices saves time and therefore costs. It's not mandatory. Completeness is what matters: every account transaction needs a receipt. Entertainment and travel expenses require the legally mandated details, otherwise the tax office won't recognize the business expense deduction.

How long does the annual financial statement take?

If all documents are complete, we usually expect four to six weeks until the draft is ready. Questions about individual matters can extend processing time. If you have bank appointments or deadlines, let us know early so we can prioritize accordingly.

What happens during a tax audit?

The audit order usually goes to both you and us. We coordinate the appointment, prepare the data for digital data access, and accompany the audit. You forward the auditor's questions to us instead of answering spontaneously. We discuss results with you before the closing meeting.

Can everything be handled digitally?

Yes. Through our client portal, you upload receipts, and bank transactions arrive via interface. We provide analyses, financial statements, and returns there, with approvals handled electronically. If you prefer to submit paper documents, you can still do so — we then digitize the receipts at our office.

Meeting table at a tax office with laptop, receipt folders and notepad in daylight

Tax office in the Hanover area

From the first call to the annual review

Name: Steuerkanzlei Berg
Address: Georgstraße 22, Hannover, Niedersachsen, 30159, DE
Telephone: +49 30 23125104

With us, an engagement starts with a conversation, not a contract. This page explains what happens in what order, which documents we need from you and when, and what the firm takes on from the very first month.

Request initial consultation View documents

Georgstraße 22, Hanover Self-employed professionals and small businesses Appointments by arrangement Digital or on paper

Engagement terms in writing before we start

A dedicated contact person for your mandate

Receipt handover digitally or on paper

Reminder before every filing deadline

The Path to a Mandate

Between your first message and the first bookkeeping entry lie six steps – each with a clear outcome you receive in writing.

1. Inquiry

You write to us via the contact form or call +49 30 23125104. We ask about your legal form, industry and what you currently handle yourself. This takes no more than ten minutes.

Channel: Phone, email, form
Outcome: Suggested appointment

2. Initial consultation

At Georgstraße 22 or by video, we discuss figures, deadlines and your expectations. You'll learn which services make sense and which you can do without.

Location: Office or video
Cost: see Costs page

3. Engagement

You receive a written overview of the agreed services, the billing basis and the responsibilities. The engagement only begins once you've signed.

Format: In writing
Includes: Services and fee basis

4. Documents

We set up your access, use your power of attorney to obtain data from the tax office, and take over your existing bookkeeping. What we need is listed on a checklist.

Handover: Digital or paper
Checklist: Sent in advance by email

5. Ongoing work

Bookkeeping, advance returns and payroll run on a monthly cycle. You receive your reports and reach out whenever something unusual comes up – such as an investment or a new employee.

Frequency: Monthly
Report: BWA after bookkeeping close

6. Annual review meeting

After the annual financial statements, we review the results together: what happened, where advance payments stand, and what will change in the new year.

Frequency: Once a year
Basis: Annual financial statements

Who Handles What

We define the division of tasks in the initial consultation and record it in writing – so no deadline falls through the cracks between your desk and the firm.

You provide

Your Side

Outgoing invoices and incoming receipts by the 10th of the following month
Bank statements for all business accounts, numbered without gaps
Notification of personnel changes before the payroll run
Cash book or cash report, if you take cash payments
Mail from the tax office, as soon as you receive it

We take care of

Our Side

Recording ongoing business transactions and reconciling accounts
Advance VAT returns and submission to the tax office
Payroll processing including notifications to health insurers and the trade association
Annual financial statements and business tax returns
Reviewing notices and monitoring deadlines for your mandate

Receipt Handover

Two Paths, One Bookkeeping Status

Whether you scan your receipts or bring them by in a folder is up to you – either way, bookkeeping follows the same monthly schedule.

Prepare Digitally, Close Out Monthly

You photograph or scan your receipts and upload them to your client portal. We match them to the account transactions, address open questions together in a single query list, and close out the month. The originals stay with you at your business.

We accept paper receipts just as readily – sorted by month is enough
Queries come in batches, not scattered throughout the day
After month-end closing, you receive a P&L statement and a trial balance
Your reports are available in your access portal and remain accessible there

Paper receipts in a filing folder next to a tablet showing the digital receipt list

Annual Cycle

A Mandate Year on a Fixed Rhythm

Most deadlines repeat – monthly filings and payroll, the annual statements in spring, and a look at advance payments in autumn.

On a Monthly Basis

By the 10th of the following month, you provide receipts and bank statements — via document upload, as a PDF, or on paper. We book on an ongoing basis and get in touch before any deadline gets tight.

Financial accounting: recording receipts, reconciling accounts, reviewing open items
VAT advance return to the tax office, including permanent deadline extension
Payroll accounting: payslips, notifications to health insurers and the trade association
Analysis (BWA) with a brief overview of the figures

On an Annual Basis

After the turn of the year, we close out the previous year. You receive a checklist of everything we still need — such as inventory figures, loan balances, or certificates.

Closing entries: depreciation, provisions, accruals
Annual financial statements or income surplus statement, discussed with you
Tax returns for business and personal matters, all from a single source
Review of the tax assessment and appeal within the one-month deadline

Frequently Asked

Questions about the Process

These are the points that come up most often in an initial consultation — from switching accounting firms to what determines the fee.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Briefly describe what it's about — Steuerkanzlei Berg will get back to you with an assessment.

Send Inquiry