Key Takeaways
- SimpleVAT is pan-EU software; Vaytax is a Germany-only Steuerberater firm. Both can file German VAT returns; the underlying model is different.
- SimpleVAT publishes per-country pricing (approximately $470 one-off + $240/year per country). Vaytax publishes flat German pricing (€499 one-time + €79/month).
- SimpleVAT's strength is software-led OSS automation across 8 EU countries with API integration to Amazon and Shopify. Vaytax does not file OSS.
- Vaytax's strength is direct Steuerberater filing and Finanzamt correspondence handling. Every return is prepared by a licensed Steuerberater; routine Finanzamt letters are handled as part of the monthly fee.
- Hybrid setups work. Many sellers use Vaytax for Germany (where they have inventory and need local filing depth) and a software tool like SimpleVAT for OSS and other-country registrations.
Information verified by Vaytax as of May 2026. Sources: simplevat.eu, Vaytax pricing page. SimpleVAT pricing in USD as published on their site; EUR equivalents calculated at current exchange.
What each company is
SimpleVAT is a VAT compliance software platform built primarily for Amazon FBA and e-commerce sellers. It covers VAT registration and ongoing filing in eight EU countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Czechia, Poland), with API integration to Amazon and Shopify for OSS (One-Stop Shop) report consolidation. The product is software-led: the platform pulls transaction data from connected marketplaces, formats it for each country's tax return, and submits via API or e-filing pipelines. Pricing is published transparently at approximately $470 one-off per country plus $240/year ongoing per country.
Vaytax is the customer-facing brand of FRADECO GmbH tax advisory firm, a German Steuerberatungsgesellschaft. Vaytax is intentionally Germany-only: every return is prepared in-house in DATEV by a licensed German Steuerberater and submitted via ELSTER. The model is advisor-led: the platform helps the customer collect input numbers in plain English, but the Steuerberater reviews, signs, and files each return. Routine Finanzamt correspondence is handled as part of the monthly fee. Pricing is €499 one-time + €79/month or €853/year.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Vaytax | SimpleVAT |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic scope | Germany only (specialist) | UK, FR, DE, IT, ES, SE, CZ, PL (8 countries) |
| Filing model | Advisor-led: in-house licensed Steuerberater prepares and files each return | Software-led: platform automates compilation and submission |
| Pricing (Germany only) | €499 one-time + €79/month = €948 first year, €948/year ongoing (or €853/year annual plan) | ~€430 one-off + ~€220/year/country = ~€650 first year, ~€220/year ongoing |
| What each fee covers | Steuerberater filing time, DATEV/ELSTER pipeline, Finanzamt correspondence, ZM, Dauerfrist, annual return | Software access, automated submission, marketplace API integration, OSS automation |
| OSS (One-Stop Shop) | Not covered (filed separately in your home country) | Yes, with API automation from marketplace data |
| Marketplace API integration | Manual upload of monthly totals (5-minute task) | Direct API integration with Amazon, Shopify |
| Finanzamt correspondence | Included in monthly fee for subscribers; one-shot letter intake available for non-subscribers | Software-led; no comparable published service for ad-hoc Finanzamt letters |
| ZM (EC Sales List) | Yes, with VIES validation in the dashboard | Yes |
| Dauerfristverlängerung handled | Yes (application + Sondervorauszahlung) | Software-supported |
| Fiscal representation surcharge | None (not required in Germany) | None (also not required) |
When SimpleVAT is the right choice
SimpleVAT fits sellers whose situation is software-shaped:
- Pan-EU FBA seller in 4 or more SimpleVAT-covered countries. If your business has VAT obligations in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland (the Amazon Pan-EU FBA core), SimpleVAT's per-country pricing scales linearly and the automation across all five reduces operational overhead.
- OSS-heavy seller. If most of your cross-border B2C activity routes through OSS rather than local registrations, SimpleVAT's automated OSS report generation from Amazon and Shopify data is a meaningful workflow improvement.
- Software-preferring operator. Some founders want the lowest possible human-in-the-loop overhead. SimpleVAT's model gives that: connect APIs, review reports, submit. The trade-off is that "review" is on the seller, not on a Steuerberater.
- Cost-optimised setup with simple German VAT. If your German activity is straightforward (one warehouse, predictable filings, no Finanzamt questions), SimpleVAT's lower per-country ongoing cost is real money saved over a year.
When Vaytax is the right choice
Vaytax fits sellers who want depth on Germany rather than breadth across the EU:
- Germany is your only or main jurisdiction. A pan-EU tool's per-country fee × eight is meaningful overhead if you only file in one. Vaytax's fixed price reflects the one-country focus.
- You want a Steuerberater on the return, not just on the software. Every Vaytax return is reviewed and signed by a licensed Steuerberater. For a foreign seller, this is professional liability + technical depth on tap, not just an automated submission pipeline.
- You expect Finanzamt correspondence. If your situation involves any complexity (cross-border B2B reverse charge, mixed marketplaces, retroactive registration, Schätzbescheid risk), routine Finanzamt correspondence handled by an in-house Steuerberater removes a real operational burden. Vaytax also offers a one-shot letter-intake service for sellers who only need a single response and no subscription.
- You value pricing certainty. Vaytax's €948/year is more than SimpleVAT's ~€220/year ongoing (after year-one setup), but it includes Steuerberater filing time, ZM, Dauerfrist, the annual return, and routine Finanzamt correspondence in one fee. SimpleVAT's lower ongoing cost reflects software-only scope.
- You want a single German tax-firm relationship. Some sellers prefer a single accountable counterparty for tax-office matters rather than a software vendor's support queue.
Hybrid setups (common in practice)
The Germany-anchored seller often runs both: Vaytax for Germany (where inventory is stored and a local German registration is mandatory) plus a software tool like SimpleVAT for OSS and any other-country registrations. This is the realistic default for FBA sellers using Pan-EU FBA selectively: Germany needs depth (advisor-led, Finanzamt-correspondence-handled), other countries can be software-led because the obligation is lighter (mostly OSS reports, fewer letters to interpret).
Neither model precludes the other. A seller starting with SimpleVAT for OSS who later receives a German Schätzbescheid can send the letter to Vaytax's letter intake for a one-shot fixed-price response without changing their main pan-EU setup.
Switching considerations
Switching from SimpleVAT to Vaytax (Germany only): cancel SimpleVAT's German service per their contract, grant Vaytax a new Vollmacht (power of attorney) with the German Finanzamt, transfer historical bookkeeping if available. Most switches complete in one to two weeks. You can keep SimpleVAT for the seven other countries and only move Germany.
Switching from Vaytax to SimpleVAT: same mechanics in reverse. Cancel Vaytax per the monthly notice, grant SimpleVAT (or their associated German tax advisor) Vollmacht, transfer DATEV exports.
What does NOT carry over in either direction: pending Bescheide and audits stay with whichever firm held the Vollmacht when the Bescheid issued. The Finanzamt updates the Vollmacht prospectively, not retroactively.
How to decide
Two questions usually settle it:
- How many EU countries do you have VAT obligations in? Just Germany → Vaytax. Four or more → SimpleVAT (or hybrid with Vaytax for Germany).
- Do you expect Finanzamt correspondence beyond routine submissions? If you have inventory in DE, Amazon §22f reporting touches you, or you have any retroactive-registration exposure → advisor-led depth (Vaytax) is the safer choice. Pure-software setups handle automation well but cost less because they cover less.
Sellers who answer "Germany only" + "yes, I want a real Steuerberater on it" land on Vaytax. Sellers who answer "many countries" + "software automation is fine for routine filings" land on SimpleVAT or a hybrid. We publish both posts honestly because the right answer depends on your shape, not on which company writes the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Vaytax and SimpleVAT?
Vaytax is a Germany-only VAT specialist with every return prepared and submitted by a licensed German Steuerberater on the in-house team. SimpleVAT is a pan-EU VAT compliance software covering eight countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Czechia, Poland), with API integration to Amazon and Shopify for OSS automation. If you need German VAT only and want direct Steuerberater filing, Vaytax is the specialist. If you need software-led OSS automation across multiple EU countries, SimpleVAT's model is the closer fit.
How does pricing compare between Vaytax and SimpleVAT?
Vaytax publishes fixed German pricing: €499 one-time registration plus €79/month ongoing (or €853/year, 10% saving). SimpleVAT publishes per-country pricing of approximately $470 one-off plus $240/year per country for ongoing compliance (approximately €430 + €220/yr at current exchange). For one country (Germany), Vaytax is structurally more expensive on month one but cheaper over a year: €948/year vs SimpleVAT's first-year ~€650 (and €220/yr from year two onward). The difference is what each fee covers: Vaytax includes Steuerberater filing time; SimpleVAT pricing reflects software-led automation.
Does SimpleVAT include a licensed Steuerberater for German filings?
SimpleVAT operates as VAT compliance software with automated tax-return submission. The platform supports German VAT registration and ongoing filing via API integration with marketplaces and Shopify. Vaytax's model is different: a licensed German Steuerberater on the in-house team prepares, reviews, and submits every return via DATEV + ELSTER. The choice depends on whether you prefer software-led automation or direct advisor involvement on each filing.
Can SimpleVAT handle a Schätzbescheid or Finanzamt letter?
SimpleVAT's published service is ongoing compliance and OSS reporting; their model is subscription-based software automation, not ad-hoc Finanzamt correspondence. Vaytax includes routine Finanzamt correspondence for subscribers as part of the monthly fee, and offers a one-shot letter-intake service for non-subscribers (Schätzbescheid, Mahnung, Anhörung, registration query) returning a fixed-price quote within 1-2 business days.
Which one covers OSS (One-Stop Shop)?
SimpleVAT has built-in OSS automation with API integration to Amazon and Shopify, designed specifically for cross-border B2C reporting consolidation. Vaytax does not file OSS returns; Vaytax customers who also have cross-border B2C activity outside Germany typically file OSS separately through their home-country tax office. This is intentional: OSS is filed in your country of establishment, not in Germany, so a Germany-specialist correctly does not encroach on the OSS lane.
Can I switch from SimpleVAT to Vaytax mid-year?
Yes. The switch involves cancelling SimpleVAT's German service per their contract, granting Vaytax a new Vollmacht with the German Finanzamt, and transferring historical bookkeeping if available. Most switches complete in one to two weeks. If you keep using SimpleVAT for other EU countries, you can run a hybrid setup: Vaytax for Germany, SimpleVAT (or any other tool) for OSS and additional country registrations.