German Finance Ministry Allows Invoices in Any Official EU Language, Updates VAT Decree

Updated Language Requirements for Invoices: On September 17, 2025, the German Finance Ministry updated the VAT Application Decree (UStAE) to permit mandatory invoice details to be presented in any official EU language, moving away from the previous requirement of only using German.
Introduction of Multilingual Terms: The new guidance includes Annex 8, which features a multilingual table of approved terms, allowing businesses to use standardized translations for key VAT terms like “Self-billing” and “Reverse charge,” facilitating compliance across EU jurisdictions.
Immediate Implementation and Impact: This update applies immediately to all open cases and replaces the older guidance from 2013, enabling businesses to issue compliant invoices without risking non-compliance due to language barriers.

Click on the logo to visit the website

Language Flexibility for Invoices: Germany’s Federal Ministry of Finance has announced that mandatory invoice fields can now be translated into any official EU language, allowing terms like “Reverse-Charge” to be presented in English, Spanish, or other official languages, in alignment with the EU VAT Directive.
Benefits for Cross-Border Invoicing: This change simplifies cross-border invoicing by eliminating the need for language corrections or dual formats, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing compliance for businesses operating in multiple EU countries.
Support for Internationalization and E-Invoicing Mandates: The move is part of Germany’s broader efforts to standardize invoicing practices and prepare for future directives, such as the upcoming “VAT in the Digital Age” initiative, which aims to harmonize e-reporting and e-invoicing across EU Member States by 2030.

Invoice