What documents do I need for filing income tax return as a self-employed person?
May 1, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Otten
Dear tax advisor,
I am Katja Halbscheffel, a self-employed graphic designer, and I am faced with the challenge of preparing my income tax return for the past year. As a self-employed individual, I have no prior experience with filing an income tax return and I am unsure about the documents I need for this purpose.
In the past, I have regularly issued invoices and documented income and expenses. Additionally, I have business accounts and I am subject to VAT. However, I am not sure if I need to provide additional documents such as bank statements, invoices, or receipts for business expenses.
My concern is that I may have forgotten important documents that are relevant for the income tax return. Therefore, I would like to gather information in advance to avoid making mistakes and missing out on potential tax benefits.
Could you please inform me about the documents that I, as a self-employed individual, need for the income tax return? Are there specific forms or evidence that I should prepare? I would appreciate a detailed list to be able to conduct my tax return as efficiently and accurately as possible.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Katja Halbscheffel
Dear Mrs. Halbscheffel,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the preparation of your income tax return as a self-employed graphic designer. It is understandable that you are unsure about which documents you need for this. I am happy to help you get an overview of the necessary documents.
As a self-employed individual, you should have the following documents ready when preparing your income tax return:
1. Revenue overview: All income you earned in the past year should be documented. This includes not only the invoices you issued but also all other sources of income such as fees, licensing fees, or other income.
2. Expense overview: All business expenses incurred in connection with your self-employment should also be listed. This includes items such as office supplies, work tools, training costs, office rent, insurance premiums, phone and internet costs, as well as travel expenses.
3. Receipts for business expenses: In addition to business expenses, you should also keep the corresponding receipts, such as invoices, receipts, or payment receipts.
4. Bank statements: It can be helpful to also provide the bank statements of your business accounts to make the income and expenses traceable.
5. VAT pre-registration: As a self-employed individual subject to VAT, you are usually required to submit regular VAT pre-registrations. These documents should also be relevant for the income tax return.
Furthermore, you should also have any contracts, agreements, or other documents related to your self-employment ready.
For the income tax return, you usually need the form "Anlage S," which is specifically designed for self-employed individuals. Here you enter your income and expenses to determine your profit or loss from self-employment.
I hope this list helps you in preparing your income tax return. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am happy to help.
Sincerely,
Ralf Otten, Tax Advisor
