GoBD stands for Principles for the proper keeping and retention of books, records and documents in electronic form, and for data access. They specify the requirements of the tax administration regarding tax-relevant accounting, recording, and retention procedures, particularly when using electronic systems.
What are the GoBD?
The GoBD are administrative instructions from the Federal Ministry of Finance. They explain the requirements that must be observed from the tax authorities' perspective when maintaining and storing books, records and documents, as well as when using data processing systems.
They are based on statutory accounting, recording and retention regulations, in particular the German Fiscal Code (AO) and the Commercial Code (GERMAN COMMERCIAL CODE), but are not themselves an independent law.
Which principles belong to the GoBD?
The essential requirements for proper books and records include in particular:
- Traceability and verifiability
- Completeness
- accuracy
- timely bookings and records
- Tidiness
- Immutability
These requirements are intended to ensure that business transactions and their processing can also be subsequently traced and audited.
What are the GoBD relevant for?
The GoBD are particularly relevant when information subject to recording or retention obligations is created, processed or stored using electronic systems.
This can include, for example, electronic booking data, digital receipts, invoices and other documents subject to retention requirements.
With electronic storage, there are therefore close connections to digital archiving and regarding the legal ones Retention periods.
What role does Procedural documentation play?
For traceability and auditability, the accounting or record-keeping system used must be comprehensibly documented.
The Process documentation describing in particular how relevant data and documents are generated, processed and stored, and which systems are used in the process.
GoBD and data access at Tax audit
The GoBD also address the tax authorities' access to electronic data that must be recorded and retained as part of a tax audit.
Data access is thus another component of GoBD, but distinct from the actual Company audit to be distinguished as an examination procedure.
