We’ll support you!

Outsource your payroll. Take control of your payroll processes.

Grant Thornton supports companies with all-round payroll services – professional payroll that is precise, reliable and future-proof. We’ll take on and process your payroll in full compliance, including all your reporting and support you with managing your payroll processes. We’ll make payroll into a stable, reliable pillar of your HR and finance structures.

Whether you’re a mid-market company or an international group, our payroll services will take the strain off your team and create transparent, compliant payroll processes. 

Digital assessments and informative reporting turn payroll from an operational obligatory process into a controllable success factor – and you gain planning security, can reduce complexity and make space for your core business.

We integrate complex remuneration models, special payments and sector-specific requirements efficiently and securely into your payroll – at no extra work to your organisation. We’ll solve cross-border employment and payroll particularities together across teams with our subservice lines of payroll tax and global mobility services. 

Added value for HR and finance

Clear processes, reliable results and complete transparency – our payroll accounting and payroll services create security and take the strain.
Legally watertight & compliant

Maximal assurance for one of the most sensitive processes at the business.

Efficient & scalable

Stable payroll processes – including for growth, restructuring or internationalisation.

Transparent & controllable

Don’t just process payroll, actively control it.

Payroll subservice line – our range of services

We’ll take on your entire payroll – from initial set-up to on-going processing to registrations all the way to additional services. You profit from legally watertight processes, clear lines of responsibility and the maximum relief for your internal teams.

We’ll take on your complete and compliant monthly payroll for your business. We’ll ensure that all your processing is correct, on time and complies with current legislation.

The benefits to you:

  • Takes the strain off your HR and finance teams
  • Reliable processing, even for complex remuneration models 
  • Outsourcing to experts reduces risk

Our range of services includes:

  • Compilation of monthly payroll from data input to preview to final approval in our payroll systems 
  • Compilation and submission of payroll tax returns as well as reporting and refund applications to health insurance funds
  • Compilation of annual reports and income tax statements
  • Digital reports to employers’ liability insurance associations

We make sure that payroll processes are transparent and provide you with all the relevant assessments and payment bases in an organised way.

The benefits to you:

  • a quick overview of payroll assessments in our Grant Thornton client portal
  • Standardised, reperformable assessments
  • Smooth payment processes

This includes:

  • Standardised assessment packages (e.g. pay journal, overview of personnel costs, payment lists, accounting records) in various file formats
  • Compilation of payment files in XML format for your online banking
  • Sending pay slips to staff 

We’ll assist you with all your new hires and terminations in an organised and reliable way – from recording master data all the way to deregistering properly.

The benefits to you:

  • Clean processes that don’t require correcting 
  • Legal certainty when sensitive staff change
  • Relief for routine administrative tasks 

Our range of services:

  • Setting up new payroll accounts and recording all relevant master data
  • Closing payroll accounts on termination
  • Compiling and submitting all registrations and deregistrations
  • Submitting confirmations such as certificates of employment to the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit)

We’ll make sure outsourcing your payroll gets off to a smooth start with an organised initial set-up and clearly defined onboarding phase.

The benefits to you:

  • Go live quickly and securely
  • Clearly coordinated payroll processes
  • Reliable interfaces and responsibilities 

In initial set-up we’ll take on:

  • Data transfer set-up
  • Reconciliation of payroll types and accounting particularities
  • Determining contacts and deadlines 
  • Set up your business in our payroll systems 
  • Initial import or data transfer of employee master data
  • Implementation on interfaces into other systems
  • Assistance with going live

We’ll support you with all the necessary registrations and official formalities concerned with the initial set-up of payroll in Germany. We’ll accompany you from hiring your first employee and when you grow.

The benefits to you:

  • Reduces the effort required to coordinate with the authorities 
  • Complete and correct returns
  • Security and assistance from the very start 

This includes:

  • Assistance with applying for a tax number for payroll tax purposes
  • Application for a business registration number for social insurance
  • Application for statutory accident insurance and application for a business identification number

Besides on-going payroll accounting we’ll support you with particular issues and matters.

What you benefit from:

  • A central contact, even in complex cases 
  • Professional support and coordination
  • Flexible expansion of the range of services including all other Grant Thornton service lines (complete range of services of an audit firm including all the services of a tax advice firm) 

Our additional services include:

  • Support with payroll and social insurance audits
  • Issuing of confirmations (especially A1)
  • Processing of cross-border matters after tax check (DTA pay)
  • Drafts and preview payroll calculation (e.g. taxation of share options or severance pay)
  • Processing of attachments, third-party declarations and furlough pay
  • Advice on particular issues in addition to monthly payroll
  • Communication with tax offices and health insurance funds in special cases
  • Individual reporting according to your requirements
Michael Schäfer
Get in touch

Michael Schäfer

Partner

Contact Michael Schäfer Learn more about Michael Schäfer
Michael Schäfer
Contact Michael Schäfer Learn more about Michael Schäfer
Michael Schäfer
Partner
Michael Schäfer
+49 211 9524 8342

Personal expertise for your payroll processes

Sophie Römer

Sophie Römer

Payroll Manager
Leipzig
View full profile
Sophie Lange

Sophie Lange

Senior Manager
Leipzig
View full profile
Maria Harder

Maria Harder

Payroll Manager
Leipzig
View full profile
Daniel Heffels

Daniel Heffels

Senior Manager
Lower Rhine
View full profile
Claudia Birl

Claudia Birl

Senior Manager
Wiesbaden
View full profile
Ines Jähnel

Ines Jähnel

Senior Manager
Berlin
View full profile
    We’ll keep you posted!

    Insights

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    Wage taxation under the double tax treaties (DTT)

    BFH-Insights

    The treatment of wages under German double tax treaties essentially follows the regulations of Art. 15 of the OECD Model Convention 2025. Only the state of residence is entitled to tax such income, “unless the employment is performed in the other contracting state.” The regulations in paragraph 2 of Art. 15 then establish exceptions to the source state’s competing right to tax. In this context, the Federal Tax Court has now once again had to rule on a treaty override (Sect. 50d(9) of the Income Tax Act). In cases of substantive errors, however, it can (unfortunately) also “change course” beforehand.

    Dr Martin Weiss
    | 7 min read | 31 Mar 2026

    Transitional issues in inheritance tax and constitutional law

    BFH-Insights

    The Inheritance and Gift Tax Act is currently the subject of controversy due to political debates as well as pending decisions by the Federal Constitutional Court. The decision preannounced on the Federal Constitutional Court’s website in case 1 BvR 804/22 specifically concerns the new inheritance tax law, which had been implemented following the Federal Constitutional Court’s 2014 decision (Federal Constitutional Court, judgment dated Dec. 17, 2014, file number 1 BvL 21/12). The Federal Tax Court has now ruled in favor of the tax authorities in a judgment addressing temporal application issues arising from the transition to the new law (judgment of Nov. 20, 2025, file number II R 7/23).

    Dr Martin Weiss
    | 7 min read | 30 Mar 2026

    2026 Annual Preview: Tax Law in the Spotlight of the Federal Constitutional Court

    Tax Law 2026 – Constitutional Developments

    The Federal Constitutional Court publishes an annual list of “planned decisions for the year 2026.” Among the numerous cases are six decisions related to tax law. Particular focus is placed on the constitutional assessment of Sect. 8c of the Corporate Income Tax Act in the context of the acquisition of more than 50 percent of the shares in a corporation, as well as a landmark decision on the inheritance tax benefits under Sect. 13a and 13b of the Inheritance and Gift Tax Act.

    Dr Martin Weiss
    | 4 min read | 27 Mar 2026
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      Frequently asked questions on our payroll service

      Outsourcing is suitable for both mid-market companies and international groups. Businesses that are growing quickly, have staffing shortages or high compliance requirements particularly profit from outsourcing their payroll.

      By outsourcing to our payroll team in Germany you save time, reduce risks and create reliable structures. This takes the strain off your internal teams, while processing, reporting and processes are controlled compliantly and efficiently.

      Our payroll experts always work according to current legal requirements and undergo regular training. Changes in the law, deadlines and reporting obligations are continuously taken into account, so your payroll accounting always stays legally compliant. Part of our payroll processes is also certified under ISAE 3402.

      Our payroll teams rely on digitised and organised structures. We particularly trust the DATEV payroll programmes and connect your internal software to it where possible. As a Personio expert partner we also have experience with HR management systems. 

      The change is made in an organised and accompanied fashion. We take on your initial set-up, data transfer and coordination of all the relevant processes, so switching over is smooth and causes minimal strain to your business.

      Yes. You have a fixed contact who knows and coordinates your payroll and acts as a central interface for HR, finance and external parties. There are also planned back-ups and set rules on standing-in within the payroll team.