DATEV
DATEV is a German cooperative (eG) providing software and IT services for tax advisors, auditors, lawyers, SMEs, and public sector organizations. With approximately 40,000 members, 200+ products, and roughly 14 million payroll computations processed monthly, it is Germany's third-largest software company.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersNuremberg, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What DATEV does
DATEV eG is a German-registered cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) founded on February 14, 1966, in Nuremberg, where approximately 65 tax advisors established the entity to process bookkeeping electronically for their clients. Today DATEV operates as Germany's third-largest software company (after SAP and Software AG) and self-describes as one of the largest software houses in Europe, offering more than 200 software products and IT services to tax advisors, auditors, legal practitioners, SMEs, and public sector organizations across Germany. Its core technology stack spans core accounting and ERP software (DATEV Unternehmen-Cloud), payroll processing (DATEV Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung) handling approximately 14 million salary computations monthly, tax preparation and electronic filing solutions, audit documentation software, law firm practice management (DATEV Anwalt classic), and municipal finance software (DATEVkommunal). A cloud application layer — including DATEV Unternehmen online, DATEV Arbeitnehmer online, DATEV Meine Steuern, DATEV SmartTransfer, and the E-Rechnungsplattform — extends the platform to businesses and employees, while the DATEV-Marktplatz marketplace and a multi-tier partner ecosystem (Solution, Corporate, Consulting, Berater für Berater) integrate third-party solutions.
The business model rests on a cooperative ownership structure with approximately 40,000 members (primarily tax advisors, auditors, and lawyers) who are simultaneously customers and owners, paying recurring subscription and membership fees for access to the software portfolio. Revenue is diversified across subscription/membership fees, transaction-based payroll processing, marketplace commissions, professional services, training, and a publishing arm producing specialized tax and accounting literature. Distribution is primarily indirect through a structured partner channel ecosystem, supplemented by direct digital channels (the DATEV shop, MyDATEV portal, and consumer-facing cloud applications) and a dedicated enterprise sales motion currently being modernized through a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM transformation with Capgemini. Data sovereignty is maintained through DATEV's own data center facilities.
Recent strategic priorities include cloud portfolio modernization, the establishment of a dedicated AI department through a partnership with MHP (delivering a Tax AI proof of concept in six weeks with twelve-month global rollout), DACH expansion via an Equifax Workforce Solutions integration, and expansion into legal-tech verticals through partnerships such as LEDOX365 and the 'Digital DATEV Law Firm' certification program. The company is led by CEO Prof. Dr. Robert Mayr alongside Deputy Chair Julia Bangerth and board members Dr. Markus Algner, Prof. Dr. Christian Bär, and Sebastian Koch, with Nicolas Hofmann as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. DATEV maintains policy offices in Berlin (since 2009) and Brussels (since 1995) to engage with German and European regulatory development.
DATEV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DATEV
- Legal name
- DATEV eG
- Website
- https://datev.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- DATEV is a German cooperative (eG) providing software and IT services for tax advisors, auditors, lawyers, SMEs, and public sector organizations. With approximately 40,000 members, 200+ products, and roughly 14 million payroll computations processed monthly, it is Germany's third-largest software company.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DATEV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nuremberg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
DATEV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Software Subscriptions and Membership Fees: DATEV operates as a cooperative (eGenossenschaft), with around 40,000 members who pay subscription fees for access to DATEV software products and IT services. Membership is a core structural element of the business.
- Payroll Processing Services: DATEV processes approximately 14 million payroll and salary computations monthly, generating recurring transaction-based revenue from wage and salary processing services.
- DATEV-Marktplatz (Marketplace): DATEV operates a marketplace where third-party partner solutions are offered to DATEV customers, potentially generating commission or platform fees.
- Professional Services, Training and Seminars: DATEV offers consulting, seminars, kanzlei-Beratungen (firm consultations), and publishes professional literature and Fachbücher (specialized books) through its publishing arm, contributing to professional services revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | DATEV accounting software for Mac - pricing tier range |
| Subscription | Monthly | DATEV Online Cloud Applications |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels9 records
DATEV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DATEV is a German cooperative (eGenossenschaft) that develops and delivers over 200 software products and IT services primarily for tax advisors, auditors, lawyers, and their small and medium-sized business clients in Germany. The portfolio covers tax preparation and filing, payroll processing, accounting and financial management, audit documentation, legal practice management, e-invoicing, and secure digital data exchange, complemented by cloud applications, a partner marketplace, knowledge databases, and education/certification programs.
Product overview
DATEV is a German cooperative (eG) offering a comprehensive software ecosystem for tax advisors, auditors, legal professionals, businesses, and public sector organizations. The portfolio spans over 200 software products and cloud applications organized into a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering includes DATEV Unternehmen-Cloud for accounting and financial management, DATEV Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung for payroll processing, and DATEV Steuerlösungen for tax preparation. These are complemented by cloud applications (DATEV Unternehmen online, DATEV Arbeitnehmer online, DATEV Meine Steuern, DATEV SmartTransfer), the DATEV E-Rechnungsplattform for e-invoicing, and DATEV Kanzleimanagement for practice operations. Specialized solutions include DATEV Anwalt classic for law firms, DATEVkommunal for municipal governments, and DATEV Mittelstandsindex for economic research. The ecosystem is extended through the DATEV Marktplatz marketplace, DATEV LEXinform and DATEV Wissensplattform knowledge databases, and the DATEV-Partnerschaft für Bildung education program. AI capabilities are being developed through a dedicated AI department, including a Tax AI proof of concept delivered in partnership with MHP achieving 40% efficiency improvements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DATEV SmartExperts: Platform to find tax advisors and auditors matching specific expertise requirements.
- DATEV Marktplatz
- DATEV Unternehmen online
- DATEV Arbeitnehmer online
- DATEV Meine Steuern
- DATEV Mittelstandsindex
Products and services
- DATEV Unternehmen-Cloud
- DATEV Lohn- und Gehaltsabrechnung
- DATEV Steuerlösungen
- DATEV Kanzleimanagement
- DATEV Jahresabschlussprüfung
- DATEV Anwalt classic
- DATEVkommunal
- DATEV Unternehmen online
- DATEV Arbeitnehmer online
- DATEV Meine Steuern
- DATEV SmartTransfer
- DATEV E-Rechnungsplattform
- DATEV Marktplatz
- DATEV SmartExperts
- DATEV Kanzleibörse
- DATEV LEXinform
- DATEV Wissensplattform
- DATEVasp
- DATEV-Rechenzentrum
- DATEV Mittelstandsindex
- DATEV Students online
- DATEV Zertifizierungen online
Quantifiable outcome
- Processing of approximately 14 million payroll and salary computations per month
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DATEV
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DATEV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
DATEV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MHP (A Porsche Company)coreDATEV partnered with consulting firm MHP to strategically implement artificial intelligence across its organization, beginning with a Tax AI proof-of-concept completed in six weeks and achieving global rollout within twelve months. The collaboration established a dedicated AI department at DATEV, generating 20-30 new AI use case ideas per workshop and delivering a 40% efficiency improvement in use case development. MHP acted as the AI enabler for the software pioneer.
- LEDOX365minorLEDOX365 and DATEV co-presented a masterclass on contract lifecycle management at the German Legal Tech Summit 2025 in Hanover. DATEV was actively represented with content contributions and involvement in the Young Professional Board. The partnership reflects growing interdisciplinarity in the legal tech ecosystem.
- Microsoft (Dynamics 365)coreDATEV partnered with Microsoft to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 for its CRM transformation. A pilot launched in July 2025 received positive feedback, with full rollout to approximately 1,300 sales employees scheduled for February 2026, extending to Customer Service and Field Service. The project aims to improve customer engagement, streamline sales processes, and enable data-driven decision-making.
- CapgeminicoreCapgemini served as the implementation partner for DATEV's Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM transformation project. The pilot phase (July 2025) validated the strategic direction, with full deployment to ~1,300 sales employees targeted for February 2026.
- FRANKUS (Certified Law Firms)minorFRANKUS, a German law firm, obtained 'Digital DATEV Law Firm 2025' certification from DATEV eG. The certification evaluates law firms on their digital collaboration with clients across accounting, taxes, and payroll operations, and must be renewed annually.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DATEV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Haufe-Lexware (Lexoffice): Haufe-Lexware's Lexoffice is a direct SMB cloud-accounting competitor to DATEV in the German market, publicly priced from ~€6.90/month and explicitly listed alongside DATEV in Mac accounting software comparisons. Both target tax advisors, self-employed professionals, and small businesses in Germany.
- sevDesk: sevDesk is a German cloud-based accounting and invoicing platform directly competing with DATEV's cloud applications for SMBs, freelancers, and small tax-advisor firms. Frequently co-listed with DATEV and Lexoffice in pricing and feature comparisons.
- Buhl Data Service: Buhl Data Service produces WISO Steuer, WISO Mein Büro, and related tax/accounting software widely used by German consumers and small businesses. It competes with DATEV across both tax preparation (Buhl Steuer) and SMB accounting (Mein Büro), and overlaps on payroll-style workflows.
- Addison (Wolters Kluwer Germany): Addison is a long-established German tax and accounting software suite from Wolters Kluwer, serving tax advisors, auditors, and SMBs — directly competing with DATEV's core Steuerlösungen and accounting product lines.
- Agenda Software: Agenda Software provides tax and accounting practice management software for German tax advisors and SMEs. It is a direct peer to DATEV in the on-premise/legacy segment of the German tax practice software market.
- Lexware (standalone, within Haufe Group): Lexware is the on-premise/SMB tax and accounting software line from Haufe Group, directly competing with DATEV's offerings for small businesses, self-employed professionals, and accounting starters in Germany.
Broad incumbents
- Sage Group (Germany): Sage offers broader accounting, ERP, and payroll software (Sage 50/100/HR) used in Germany alongside DATEV, particularly for SMB and mid-market firms. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping but not Germany-specialized functionality.
- SAP: SAP is Germany's largest software company and provides enterprise ERP, HR/payroll (SAP SuccessFactors), and finance solutions that overlap with DATEV at the larger enterprise end and via integrations (e.g., Equifax EBI pulls SAP SuccessFactors data alongside DATEV).
- Microsoft (Dynamics 365 Business Central): Microsoft Dynamics 365 (Business Central and Finance/Supply Chain) competes with DATEV at the enterprise ERP layer and is also DATEV's own CRM platform partner. It is a broad incumbent in mid-market ERP/CRM with adjacent finance functionality.
Emerging players
- FastBill: FastBill is a German cloud invoicing and accounting platform for freelancers and small businesses, competing with DATEV's SMB cloud applications (SmartTransfer, Unternehmen online) on modern UX and automated bookkeeping.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DATEV social profiles
Digital presenceDATEV compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
DATEV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DATEV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
DATEV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DATEV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DATEV
What does DATEV do?
DATEV is a German cooperative (eGenossenschaft) that develops and delivers over 200 software products and IT services primarily for tax advisors, auditors, lawyers, and their small and medium-sized business clients in Germany. The portfolio covers tax preparation and filing, payroll processing, accounting and financial management, audit documentation, legal practice management, e-invoicing, and secure digital data exchange, complemented by cloud applications, a partner marketplace, knowledge databases, and education/certification programs.
Is DATEV a public or private company?
DATEV is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was DATEV founded?
DATEV was founded in 1966. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DATEV based?
DATEV is headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DATEV make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software Subscriptions and Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are payroll Processing Services, DATEV-Marktplatz (Marketplace) and professional Services, Training and Seminars.
Who are DATEV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Haufe-Lexware (Lexoffice), sevDesk, Buhl Data Service, Addison (Wolters Kluwer Germany), Agenda Software and Lexware (standalone, within Haufe Group). Broad incumbents are Sage Group (Germany), SAP and Microsoft (Dynamics 365 Business Central). FastBill is listed as an emerging player.
Does DATEV have an API?
Yes. DATEV offers a public accounting API as part of its ecosystem, enabling integration with financial and business software. The API supports automation, AI-powered insights, compliance automation, and developer-friendly interfaces. It is listed among the top accounting APIs available for integration in 2025. Developer documentation is at www.datev.de/hilfe.