Set up deadlines and the filing profile
The return is due on the 10th of the following month, one month later with a permanent filing extension; weekends and nationwide holidays move it to the next working day.
Store deadlines and the permanent filing extension
- 01Set the filing period
Accounting → Taxes → DeadlinesOpen “Deadlines” and choose “Set up deadlines”. Enter the “Filing period” (“Monthly” or “Quarterly”) as set by the tax office, “Effective from”, and under “Owner” the person who receives the reminders.
Under “Tax deadlines” your filing period appears with the responsible person, followed by the periods with deadline and status. - 02Complete the filing profile
In a return, open “File” → “Evidence” → “Filing profile” and check the “Hotel tax number” (13 digits, no separators).
The filing profile is saved; only then can you enter the permanent filing extension. - 03Enter the permanent filing extension
If granted, enter in the “Permanent filing extension” block from when it applies. Monthly filers record the special prepayment; accept STRYK’s suggestion (one eleventh of last year’s prepayments) with “Use suggestion”.
The deadlines under “Deadlines” move one month later.
Calculate and review
Amounts that do not come from your bookkeeping are added in status “To review” with “Add tax return box”, for example VAT shown too high on an invoice (box 69). The “Reason” is mandatory and stays in the period history; the line is marked “Entered manually”.
The boxes show the rate you booked, not whether it is right. How to split room night, breakfast and packages is something to agree with your tax adviser.
Calculate and approve the return
- 01Open the period
Accounting → Taxes → VATSelect the period under “Due dates”, or choose “Prepare return” under “Deadlines”. If the status is “To calculate”, click “Calculate”.
The figure row shows “Taxable base”, “Output VAT”, “Input VAT” and “VAT payable”; the status changes to “To review”. - 02Clear blocked documents
If “To clear before approval” appears, use “Show documents”, open each one with “Open document”, add the missing detail and click “Recalculate”.
The notice is gone and approval is no longer locked. - 03Check the boxes
Compare the values under “Official form fields” with what you expect: sales by rate, input VAT, foreign portal commission.
Every line can be explained; corrections are marked “Corrected by hand”. - 04Review and approve
With two entitled people, one clicks “Complete review” and the other “Approve”; alone, you click “Review and approve”.
The status is “To file”. From now on the boxes cannot be changed.
| Box | Content | Typical in a hotel |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Sales at 19 % | Sales you booked at 19 %, such as breakfast, minibar or meeting packages |
| 86 | Sales at 7 % | Sales booked at 7 %, such as the room night |
| 46/47 | Services from EU companies, tax owed by the hotel | Commission from booking portals based in the EU |
| 84/85 | Other services where the hotel owes the tax | Commission from portals based outside the EU |
| 66 | Input VAT from invoices | Purchase invoices, such as laundry, energy or goods |
| 83 | Remaining VAT payable or refund | Result: VAT minus input VAT minus box 39 |
Example: Hotel Nordlicht Berlin
The fictional Hotel Nordlicht Berlin files monthly and has a permanent filing extension.
Calculation: € 4,063.07 + € 7,987.85 − € 5,481.31 = € 6,569.61.
File and record the return as done
You can send directly from STRYK to ELSTER once the ELSTER connection with your organisation certificate is set up and direct filing is enabled for your hotel: in the period under “File” → “Evidence” → “Send to ELSTER”.
You or your tax adviser file the annual return; STRYK does not transmit it and sends no email reminder for it.
Record the filing
- 01Record the filing
File in Mein ELSTER, or give your tax adviser the “Handover file for your tax advisor”. Then click “Record filing”, choose “Filed myself” or “Through the tax advisor” under “Filed by”, set the “Filing date” and upload the confirmation under “Confirmation (optional)”.
After “Save filing” the period shows “Done” with date, channel and “Recorded by”. The reminders stop.
Record the annual VAT return
- 01Find the row
Accounting → Taxes → DeadlinesUnder “Deadlines” you see the row “Annual VAT return 2025”, due on 31 July when filed without a tax adviser; a weekend or holiday moves it to the next working day.
The status is “Open”, after the deadline “Deadline passed”. - 02Mark as filed
Click “Mark as filed” and enter the date, plus “Reference (optional)” and “Note (optional)” if needed. This requires the “Manage accounting” right.
The row shows “Done” with “Filed on …”; everything is logged. “Undo record” reopens it.
Pay and match the payment
STRYK only matches a bank transaction with exactly the VAT payable. If the tax office debits a different amount, agree on the difference with your tax adviser.
Pay the VAT payable
- 01Prepare the transfer
Under “Bank transfer” click “Prepare SEPA”. Check “Execution date”, “Tax authority”, “Recipient IBAN”, “Recipient BIC” and the “Remittance information” with your tax number.
The SEPA file is downloaded; you upload it to your online banking. - 02Match the payment
Click “Check bank”, choose the debit or transfer under “Bank transaction” and click “Match”.
The status changes to “Bank confirmed”, followed by “Paid on …” with the amount.
Later changes and limits
After approval the boxes are fixed, and STRYK does not create an amended return. Whether and how to amend is something to agree with your tax adviser; the amended return is filed outside STRYK.
