DATEV
The standard accounting and tax software for German SMBs and tax advisors
- Data residency
- EU only
- DPA available
- Yes
- Pricing
- Subscription
- Art. 9 data
- Not suitable
Who this tool is for
Industries
- German SMBs needing tax-advisor compatibility
- Accounting and tax practices
- Companies requiring §147 AO compliant bookkeeping
- Firms wanting full German data residency
DATEV is the de-facto standard accounting and tax software in Germany, cooperative-owned and used by more than 40,000 German tax advisors and SMBs. It runs on DATEV's own data centers in Nuremberg, so data residency is firmly in Germany — a major reason it dominates regulated bookkeeping in the DACH market.
Industry-standard GDPR documentation is included, and it is the de-facto standard for §147 AO compliant bookkeeping. There is no free tier, and as a financial system it is not classified for Art. 9 special-category data. DATEV is offered to German customers and fits accounting practices, service firms and law offices that need a tax-advisor-compatible system with full domestic data residency.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Own data centers in Nuremberg — German residency
- De-facto standard for §147 AO bookkeeping
- Cooperative-owned, used by 40,000+ tax advisors
- Direct compatibility with tax advisors
- GDPR documentation included
Trade-offs
- No free tier
- Primarily aimed at the German market
- Steeper learning curve than modern cloud tools
- Not classified for Art. 9 special-category data
Where it sits with GDPR
Good fit for
- Data held in DATEV's own Nuremberg data centers
- Industry-standard GDPR documentation included
- No third-country transfer for German customers
Think twice / not suitable for
- Not classified for Art. 9 special-category data
- Broad access to financial PII requires strict internal role controls
Data protection note
DATEV cooperative; own data center in Nuremberg; de-facto standard for §147 AO bookkeeping.
Frequently asked questions
Where is DATEV data stored?
In DATEV's own data centers in Nuremberg, Germany — full German data residency.
Is DATEV GDPR compliant?
Yes. DATEV operates German data centers and includes industry-standard GDPR documentation and a DPA.
Is DATEV suitable for §147 AO bookkeeping?
Yes, it is the de-facto standard for §147 AO compliant bookkeeping in Germany.
Does DATEV work with my tax advisor?
Yes. DATEV is used by 40,000+ German tax advisors, making data exchange straightforward.
Reviews are written and reviewed by Eduardo personally. They describe what a tool does and where it sits with data protection, but they do not constitute legal advice.