DATEV CSV and Excel: German Bookkeeping Export/Import Basics

DATEV Is the German Bookkeeping Gravity Well

Most German SMEs and Steuerberater (tax advisors) orbit DATEV or DATEV-compatible exports. When international tools spit out US-style comma CSV, the handoff to a German practice fails: semicolons, decimal commas, date dots, and account frameworks (SKR03/SKR04) all matter.

This guide is a practical CSV/Excel bridge for founders and ops teams moving data toward DATEV-centric workflows — not a substitute for your advisor’s official DATEV import format version.

Always Ask Which DATEV Format Version

“DATEV CSV” is not one universal template.

• Get a sample file that already imported successfully — clone its shape.
• Do not invent account numbers; map to the chart your advisor maintains.

German CSV Locale Stack

Expect the European Excel stack — then confirm.

Umsatz;Soll/Haben;Konto;Gegenkonto;Belegdatum;Buchungstext
1500,00;S;8400;1200;03.05.2026;Rechnung 1001 Webdesign
42,18;S;4980;1200;03.05.2026;Hosting Mai

Step-by-Step: Prep an International Export for DATEV

When Stripe, PayPal, Shopify, or a US ERP must feed German books.

• Export source CSV (often comma + period decimals + ISO or US dates).
• Map product/revenue lines to SKR accounts your advisor approved.
• Convert dates to DD.MM.YYYY.
• Convert amounts to German decimal commas; thousands handling per sample.
• Convert delimiter to semicolon with a quote-aware tool.
• Set Soll/Haben (debit/credit) correctly — do not guess from English “Amount” signs alone.
• Preview in Online CSV Editor; send a 5-line pilot to the advisor.
• Only then deliver the full month.

import csv
from datetime import datetime

def de_amount(value: str) -> str:
    return value.replace(",", "").replace(".", ",")

with open("us_export.csv", newline="", encoding="utf-8") as inp, \
     open("datev_ready.csv", "w", newline="", encoding="utf-8") as out:
    reader = csv.DictReader(inp)
    writer = csv.writer(out, delimiter=";")
    writer.writerow(["Umsatz", "Soll/Haben", "Konto", "Gegenkonto", "Belegdatum", "Buchungstext"])
    for row in reader:
        date = datetime.strptime(row["date"], "%Y-%m-%d").strftime("%d.%m.%Y")
        writer.writerow([
            de_amount(row["amount"]),
            row["sh"],
            row["account"],
            row["contra"],
            date,
            row["memo"],
        ])

Soll and Haben Without Tears

English “positive/negative amount” files confuse DATEV batches.

• Many DATEV imports want unsigned Umsatz plus an S or H indicator.
• Bank exports with signed amounts need an explicit mapping rule documented with your advisor.
• Revenue vs expense vs balance-sheet accounts change which side is “normal.”
• When unsure, send categorized Excel for the advisor to post — cheaper than fixing a wrong batch in production.

EU Marketplaces and VAT Context

OSS, reverse charge, and marketplace schemes change posting — not just CSV shape.

• Amazon/eBay/Shopify DE sales may need distinct accounts/tax keys.
• Do not stuff “19%” into a field that expects a DATEV Steuerschlüssel code.
• Keep invoice PDFs aligned with CSV line totals for the advisor’s Belege.

Excel for Advisor Handoffs

Sometimes Excel is requested instead of ASCII/CSV.

• Still use DE date and number formats if that is the practice’s norm.
• One sheet; no merged titles; header row only.
• Avoid formula cells — paste values.
• Name files with client + period: mandant-2026-05-bank.xlsx.

Common Mistakes

Expensive to unwind.

• Sending US comma CSV and hoping DATEV “figures it out.”
• Blind replace of , and ; destroying numbers.
• Using UK Xero TaxType names as DATEV tax keys.
• Posting Stripe payouts as revenue.
• Mixing SKR03 accounts into an SKR04 company.
• Skipping the pilot batch.

Best Practices

Partner with the Steuerberater; automate the boring transforms.

• Keep a golden sample file that imported cleanly.
• Document account mapping for Stripe/PayPal/Shopify once.
• Standardize monthly filename and column order.
• Convert locale with quote-aware tools (see European Excel CSV guide).
• Prefer client-side cleanup for confidential Buchungsdaten.

Why Use Convert CSV Online?

Convert CSV Online is free, browser-based, and requires no account for everyday conversions. Switch comma↔semicolon layouts with the Delimited converter, preview German bookkeeping tables in the Online CSV Editor, and deliver Excel when advisors prefer workbooks. Ideal for DE founders collaborating with US/UK tools on Windows, macOS, or Linux browsers.

Conclusion

DATEV-ready CSV is a locale and chart-of-accounts problem. Match your Steuerberater’s format version, embrace semicolon/decimal-comma/date-dot conventions, pilot every new source system, and never treat US SaaS exports as DATEV-native.