# DACH ERP Localization Checklist: Germany, Austria, Switzerland > Source: https://netray.co/tools/dach-erp-localization-checklist > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer A 34 item checklist for making an ERP fit German, Austrian and Swiss requirements, covering tax, e-invoicing, banking, records and language. ## Category regional ## Erp Multiple ERPs ## Industry Discrete Manufacturing ## Region Germany, Austria, Switzerland ## Audience - Controller - ERP project lead - Tax manager ## Tool **Kind:** checklist **Groups:** #### 1. Tax and accounting **Items:** **Text:** Chart of accounts decided and mapped, for example SKR03 or SKR04 in Germany and a Swiss standard plan for Switzerland **Critical:** true **Text:** VAT codes and rates configured for each country, including reduced rates **Critical:** true **Text:** Reverse charge and intra-EU delivery handling tested **Critical:** true **Text:** Periodic VAT return data and recapitulative statements reproduced against a real period **Critical:** true **Text:** Intrastat reporting thresholds and data fields verified for each country **Critical:** false **Text:** Swiss VAT specifics, including the different rates and the effective or net tax rate methods, confirmed with your adviser **Critical:** false **Text:** Fiscal year, period locking and depreciation methods aligned with local practice **Critical:** false #### 2. Records and compliance **Items:** **Text:** Audit trail meets German principles for digital bookkeeping (GoBD) as interpreted by your auditor **Critical:** true **Text:** Retention periods set for accounting records and commercial correspondence **Critical:** true **Text:** Procedure documentation (Verfahrensdokumentation) drafted for the new system **Critical:** true **Text:** Data export for tax audits available in a format the authorities accept **Critical:** true **Text:** Document immutability or change logging after posting verified **Critical:** true **Text:** GDPR (DSGVO) roles, deletion rules and records of processing updated **Critical:** true **Text:** Works council consultation planned where employee data or monitoring is affected **Critical:** false #### 3. E-invoicing and documents **Items:** **Text:** Ability to receive structured e-invoices confirmed, in line with the German B2B phase in **Critical:** true **Text:** Ability to issue e-invoices in EN 16931 based formats such as XRechnung or ZUGFeRD planned for the dates that apply to you **Critical:** true **Text:** Public sector customers' routing requirements checked (for example Leitweg-ID in Germany) **Critical:** false **Text:** Austrian requirements for federal customers, including ebInterface, checked **Critical:** false **Text:** Mandatory invoice content fields verified on layouts, including tax numbers and supply date **Critical:** true **Text:** Dunning letters, payment terms and legal footer texts reviewed in German **Critical:** false **Text:** Delivery notes and export documents meet customs and customer requirements **Critical:** false #### 4. Banking and payments **Items:** **Text:** SEPA credit transfer and direct debit files tested with the house bank **Critical:** true **Text:** SEPA mandate management in place for direct debits **Critical:** true **Text:** Swiss QR-bill generation and reconciliation tested for CHF invoices **Critical:** true **Text:** Bank statement import formats (for example camt) tested and matched to open items **Critical:** true **Text:** Multi currency handling with CHF and euro rates and revaluation verified **Critical:** false **Text:** Cash discount (Skonto) terms and posting logic tested **Critical:** false #### 5. Language, master data and operations **Items:** **Text:** User interface, reports and documents available in German, with terminology agreed **Critical:** false **Text:** Address formats, postal codes, special characters and umlauts load and print correctly **Critical:** true **Text:** Accounting export to the tax adviser, such as a DATEV format, tested end to end **Critical:** true **Text:** Payroll and HR interfaces checked if connected to ERP postings **Critical:** false **Text:** Units, decimal and thousands separators and date formats set per locale **Critical:** false **Text:** Customs and export control data (tariff numbers, origin) maintained for cross border shipments **Critical:** false **Text:** Local statutory contact in place for ongoing legal changes **Critical:** false **Scoring Note:** Rules in this area change often. Confirm each critical item with your tax adviser and auditor for your own situation and dates. ## Content **Intro:** An ERP that works well elsewhere may not meet German, Austrian or Swiss requirements out of the box. Tax rules, e-invoicing, bank formats and record keeping differ by country. This checklist covers the main areas to verify before you go live in the DACH region. **Sections:** #### How to use this checklist **Body:** Treat each item as a question for your vendor or partner: show me this working with our data. Export to Excel, add owners and test dates, and ask your tax adviser to review the critical items. Because rules and deadlines change, check dates and formats against current official guidance. This list is a planning aid, not legal or tax advice. #### Tax, records and audit **Body:** German practice expects accounting records that are complete, traceable and unchangeable after posting, often summarized by the term GoBD. Auditors will also ask for process documentation and an export of data for audit. Austria and Switzerland have their own VAT rules and rates, so do not copy German settings. Confirm chart of accounts, VAT codes and reverse charge handling with your adviser early. **Bullets:** - Immutable posting or full change logging - Process documentation for the new system - Data export for tax audits - VAT, Intrastat and recapitulative statements by country #### E-invoicing, banking and QR-bill **Body:** Germany has been phasing in mandatory structured e-invoicing for domestic B2B transactions, with receiving ability required before issuing, so check the current timetable for your company size. Structured formats follow the European standard EN 16931, with XRechnung and ZUGFeRD in common use. For Swiss customers, the QR-bill replaced the old payment slips, and your ERP must produce and reconcile it. SEPA files and bank statement import should be tested with your bank. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Companies often configure German tax settings and assume Austria and Switzerland follow. Another frequent gap is the tax adviser's export, which is discovered at the first month-end. Test character sets with real customer names containing umlauts, and test the full path from invoice to payment to bank reconciliation, not just document layouts. **Cta:** If you need help testing localization scenarios against your ERP data or drafting process documentation, Netray can support the work with your tax adviser. The checklist is free and stands alone. **Faq:** #### Is this legal or tax advice? **Answer:** No. It is a planning checklist. Rules and deadlines change and depend on your company, so confirm every critical item with your tax adviser, auditor or legal counsel before relying on it. #### What is GoBD? **Answer:** It is the German administrative guidance on keeping books, records and documents electronically in a proper, traceable and unalterable way. It affects ERP posting logic, logging, retention and the ability to provide data for audits. #### Do I need XRechnung or ZUGFeRD? **Answer:** It depends on your customers and the current mandate timetable. Public sector customers in Germany require structured invoices, and B2B obligations are being phased in. Check the latest rules for your size and sector. #### Does one German setup cover Austria and Switzerland? **Answer:** No. Rates, forms, bank formats and local practices differ. Austria has its own VAT rules and e-invoice routes, and Switzerland has separate VAT rules, the QR-bill and a different chart of accounts tradition. ## Search terms dach erp localization, erp localization germany, gobd erp checklist, xrechnung zugferd erp, swiss qr bill erp, datev export erp, austria ebinterface, german erp requirements checklist, erp localization checklist --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json