What is DATEV?
DATEV is the most widely used accounting and tax software among German tax advisors. Almost every firm in Germany works with it. The DATEV export in Accountable was built specifically so your tax advisor can import your accounting data directly into their system without any manual effort.
Who is the DATEV export for?
The DATEV export is relevant for you if you work with a tax advisor who uses DATEV. This is the case for most German firms.
Typical use cases:
Your tax advisor is preparing your tax return and needs your booking data.
You want to hand over all receipts and bookings to your firm at year end.
Your tax advisor wants to continue your ongoing bookkeeping in DATEV.
💡 Note: Check in your Accountable settings whether the DATEV export is included in your plan. If you have questions, our support team is happy to help.
Where to find the DATEV export in Accountable
You can access the DATEV export directly from the navigation menu. Here is how to get there:
Tap More in the left-hand menu.
Select Export your data.
On the export page, check the box next to DATEV under "What do you want to export?"
A settings panel will expand below, where you fill in the required fields (chart of accounts, client number, accountant DATEV number) and choose whether to include original documents.
Set your export period using the date picker at the bottom of the page.
Click Generate export to download your files.
The DATEV export fields explained
Before you export, you need to fill in a few fields. Here is what they mean and where to find the information.
1. Chart of accounts: SKR03 or SKR04
The chart of accounts is a standardized numbering system that defines how income, expenses, and taxes are categorized in bookkeeping. There are two common options:
SKR03 is the most commonly used chart of accounts, especially for freelancers and small businesses.
SKR04 is preferred by some firms, particularly for companies that prepare balance sheets.
Not sure which one to choose? Just ask your tax advisor. They can tell you in seconds.
2. Client number in DATEV
The client number is the number your tax advisor has assigned to you in their DATEV system. It ensures that your data is matched to the correct client during import.
You will not find this number in Accountable. You get it directly from your tax advisor.
3. Accountant DATEV number
The accountant DATEV number is your tax advisor's personal DATEV identification number. It is also required so that DATEV can correctly assign the imported data.
You also get this number directly from your tax advisor.
4. Include original documents
When this option is enabled, your receipts (invoices, expense documents, etc.) are linked directly to the bookings in DATEV. Your tax advisor can then open the original receipt for each booking with a single click.
We recommend keeping this option enabled. It saves your tax advisor a lot of time.
What gets exported?
The DATEV export consists of two files:
A CSV file with all your bookings (income, expenses, bank transactions) in DATEV format.
A ZIP file (receipts.zip) with all associated original documents, linked via a unique document ID.
Both files need to be passed on to your tax advisor or uploaded directly into DATEV.
Tip: Direct access for your tax advisor
Instead of sending files back and forth, you can also give your tax advisor direct access to your Accountable account. You can set this up in a few easy steps under Account > Settings > Data access. This way, they always have access to your current data without you needing to export regularly.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to our tax coaches at any time: steuer-coach@accountable.eu