Export the DATEV format for your German tax advisor

What is DATEV?

DATEV is the standard exchange format for accounting data in Germany, developed by DATEV eG. German tax advisors (Steuerberater) and accountants use it as a transfer format: businesses deliver their financial data in DATEV format, after which the advisor can process it directly in their own software.

The common variant is EXTF ("Erweitertes TransFer-Format"), a CSV file consisting of a header with metadata, followed by the booking entries. Such a collection of bookings is called a Buchungsstapel (booking batch) and is usually delivered per month.

When do you deliver DATEV?

DATEV comes into play as soon as a business works with a German bookkeeper or tax advisor:

• Dutch or international business with a German bookkeeper — your Steuerberater expects the bank data in DATEV format, while your bank delivers MT940, CAMT.053 or CSV.
• German branch or subsidiary — the administration is kept in Germany and must align with the advisor's DATEV way of working.
• Periodic delivery — usually you deliver a booking batch per month, in line with the reporting periods.

From bank statement to DATEV

Banks rarely deliver a DATEV file directly. In practice you start with an MT940, CAMT.053 or CSV bank statement and convert it to DATEV:

Source format	Origin	Target format
MT940	Classic SWIFT bank statement	DATEV (EXTF Buchungsstapel)
CAMT.053	ISO 20022 XML bank statement	DATEV (EXTF Buchungsstapel)
CSV	Bank export or ERP export	DATEV (EXTF Buchungsstapel)

Export DATEV with StatementBridge

Converting to DATEV takes four simple steps:

1. Upload your bank statement — go to StatementBridge and upload your MT940, CAMT.053 or CSV file.
2. Check the transactions — verify in the preview that dates, amounts and descriptions have been read correctly.
3. Choose DATEV as target format — select DATEV; StatementBridge generates an EXTF booking batch.
4. Download and deliver — click Convert, download the DATEV file and send it to your Steuerberater.

Reliable and safe DATEV format

A DATEV file places strict requirements on structure and encoding. StatementBridge takes this into account, so your tax advisor can read the file without problems:

• Protection against formula injection — text fields that start with characters such as =, +, - or @ are neutralised, so the CSV file stays safe in spreadsheet software.
• Correct encoding — StatementBridge delivers the file in the character encoding that DATEV software expects, so special characters are displayed correctly.
• Correct structure — the EXTF header and the booking entries follow the DATEV structure, so the file is recognised as a valid booking batch.
• Per period — easily deliver one booking batch per month, matching your advisor's way of working.

Tips for a smooth delivery

Agree with your Steuerberater in advance which period and which account(s) you deliver. Always check in the preview that the start and end dates are correct and that debit and credit amounts are correct. Preferably deliver one booking batch per month, so the administration stays clear and aligns with the reporting periods.