DATEVs

DATEV eG, commonly known as DATEV, is a German cooperative and software provider that develops and distributes information technology solutions for tax advisors, accountants, and small to medium-sized enterprises. The DATEV product family supports accounting, payroll, tax filing, and data exchange with clients and business partners, and is widely used in Germany.

DATEV eG was founded in 1966 by a group of tax advisors to standardize the transfer of bookkeeping data between clients and tax professionals. It evolved into a major supplier of accounting software and IT services, expanding from on-premises applications to cloud-based offerings in the 2010s and building an ecosystem around its standardized data formats and interfaces.

Core products and services include DATEV Rechnungswesen (accounting), DATEV Buchführung (bookkeeping), DATEV Lohn-/Gehaltsabrechnung (payroll), DATEV Unternehmen online (cloud client portal), and various cloud and hybrid solutions. The company also provides interfaces and tools for exporting data from client ERP systems to DATEV formats and for secure data exchange with tax advisors and auditors.

A central feature is the DATEV data format and the secure channels for data transfer, such as DATEVconnect online, which enables clients to share data with tax professionals and receive processed results. The DATEV ecosystem also includes training, certification, and partner programs.

DATEV is considered a dominant standard in German tax and accounting workflows, particularly among tax offices and small businesses. Critics point to vendor lock-in and interoperability issues with non-DATEV software, while supporters emphasize standardized processes, data security, and long-standing collaboration.