Note: This article is intended for our partners and their clients in Germany. It answers the most important questions regarding the cash register notification pursuant to § 146a para. 4 AO via the RetailForce portal. This notification, which includes both the TSE and operational data, has been legally mandatory since July 31, 2025. As of: August 2025
Registration & Master Data
Do I have to register each store individually, or can I register multiple stores at once?
In the portal, you can select multiple stores at once. However, you will receive a separate email for each store for verification/confirmation.
What is entered as the serial number for PC-based cash registers with custom software?
The serial number refers exclusively to the cash register hardware. You can usually find it on the delivery note or the type plate of the device.
Why is the "Register TSE" button not displayed?
Check your software version. Starting with version 1.10.1, cash register notification via our portal is possible. Detailed system requirements can be found in the Help Center.
What impact does the version number have on the notification?
A regular software update does not require a new TSE notification. Only fundamental changes to the cash register software or the business location require a new notification.
Tax Number
Can the tax number be entered in the Company instead of in the Organization?
The tax number can be stored either at the company level or the organization level. The functionality remains the same.
Does it matter whether the tax number starts with 0 or 1?
No. The leading digit does not affect the validity. Both versions are accepted.
Companies typically receive their tax number in the format 123/1234/12345 or 12/345/67890, usually 10 to 11 digits. For electronic reporting (e.g. via ELSTER), it must be converted into the standardized 13-digit format. The official tax number converter provided by the BMWK can help with this.
It is essential that the tax number is entered completely and correctly.
Changes After Initial Notification
If the business location's address changes, do I have to submit a new TSE notification?
Yes. Address changes are considered significant and require a new notification.
For a pure software-based POS system – do I leave the serial number field empty?
If the software has its own serial number, enter it. Otherwise, use the serial number of the hardware used (e.g., the computer).
Costs
What are the costs for the notification?
Only real (productive) notifications are charged, not test notifications. Currently, the fee is €25 per notification; there are no ongoing monthly or annual costs.
Are you missing a question? Feel free to leave us a comment. We continuously update this article.
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