Zuschlags

Zuschlags (Zuschläge) is a German term with multiple meanings used in different contexts. In everyday business language, a Zuschlag is an additional charge added to a base price to reflect extra costs or services. Zuschläge can be fixed sums or percentage-based and are commonly found in invoices, price lists, and cost estimates. Examples include Nacht- oder Feiertagszuschläge, Expresslieferzuschläge, or Zuschläge for deliveries to remote regions. They may be contractually defined and are often subject to value-added tax; their application can vary by sector and country.

In procurement and auctions, Zuschlag denotes the award of a contract or sale to a bidder after evaluating bids. The awarding authority issues the Zuschlag to the selected bidder, which effectively concludes the bidding process for that lot. The decision is typically guided by Zuschlagskriterien such as price, quality, delivery time, and compliance with tender requirements. The period in which the Zuschlag must be issued is called the Zuschlagsfrist, and the formal notification is sometimes referred to as a Zuschlagsbekanntmachung. In public procurement, the Zuschlag is a legally significant step and may be subject to appeals or reconsideration if procedural rules are violated. In auctions and sales, the phrase “der Zuschlag ging an …” indicates which bid won the item.

Because the term spans pricing and procurement, context is essential to determine which meaning applies. In German, Zuschläge and Zuschlag are commonly used with prefixes or in compound terms such as Zuschlagskriterien, Zuschlagsfrist, or Preisaufschlag.