Germany > Legal entities > Registration of employees at the Zollamt
Registration of Employees at the Zollamt (Meldung – minimum wage)
We will arrange for your employees to register with the German customs authorities.
We can help you with administration and solutions in Germany
If your company sends employees to work for a German customer, you must register them with the German customs authorities (Zollamt). Here, registration must be done before the employees concerned are sent to work in Germany, and this can only be done electronically.
Failure to comply with this obligation and the absence of proof of registration of your employees at the customs authorities can expose your company to heavy penalties.
If your company uses freelancers for work in Germany, you do not need to report them to the Zollamt. The reporting obligation therefore applies exclusively to employees.
Frequently asked questions
When must a company register posted employees with German Customs?
A foreign company must submit a notification before work begins if it posts employees to a sector or activity covered by the German notification rules. The obligation does not arise automatically for every assignment in Germany; the sector, actual activity and form of posting are particularly relevant. We review the specific situation and, where notification is required, ensure that it is submitted on time.
How are posted employees registered with German Customs?
The notification is submitted electronically through the Minimum Wage Registration Portal (Meldeportal-Mindestlohn), not in person at a local customs office. It contains details of the employer, the posted employees, the place and period of work, and other information required for the relevant notification. We prepare the necessary information and submit the notification for your company.
Must a company also register self-employed contractors with German Customs?
Genuinely self-employed contractors are generally not included in an employee posting notification. However, the actual manner in which the work is performed is decisive, not merely the title of the contract, because self-employed status may be challenged where the arrangement has the characteristics of employment. We review the working arrangement and recommend the appropriate procedure.
What are the consequences if a company fails to register posted employees?
If a company fails to comply with an applicable notification obligation, it may face a fine during an inspection by German Customs. It must also be able to demonstrate compliance with the notification requirements and the applicable working conditions. We review existing submissions and help correct missing or inaccurate information.