Steuernummer and VAT ID Numbers (USt-IdNr): What's the Difference?
The Steuernummer is the tax number issued by the tax office where the business is registered. It is used in VAT returns and for all correspondence, audits, and day-a-day issues with the tax authorities. The VAT ID number, often referred as USt-IdNr, is the VIES number, used for all intra-Community transactions. A foreign business must first apply for a steuernummer at the corresponding tax office (in Germany, depending on your country of establishment, you are allocated a specific tax office). Once the steuernummer is received, an additional application must be made to the Federal Tax office to obtain the VAT Id number (USt-IdNr).
After the Steuernummer has been issued and the application has been submitted, the USt-IdNr is usually issued within 1–2 weeks, although in some cases it can take up to around 3 weeks.
