A note on “AI”: I couldn’t verify AI features beyond automatic bank syncing and rule-based forecasting in any tool below. Treat “AI-powered” claims as marketing until you’ve tested them.
Subtopic: the German dates and rules your forecast must include
Most forecasting tools pull in bank data and open invoices. They won’t know your tax calendar unless you add it. Sources, including Saxony’s official tax calendar, agree on these 2026 dates:
| Item | Due dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax prepayment | 10 Mar, 10 Jun, 10 Sep, 10 Dec | Based on your last assessment, split into four equal parts (§37 EStG). A €400-per-year minimum and €100-per-date minimum apply, per one source. |
| Trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) prepayment | 15 Feb, 15 May, 15 Aug, 15 Nov | Gewerbetreibende only, not Freiberufler. In 2026 some dates shift for weekends (16 Feb, 17 Aug, 16 Nov). |
| VAT return (UStVA) | 10th of the following month or quarter | A Dauerfristverlängerung moves filing and payment back by one month. |
A catch-up can also hit you. If the Finanzamt raises your prepayments, one source says missed earlier dates may be collected together at the next date. Ask your Steuerberater how this works in your case.
Late payers. Between businesses, a customer is in default at the latest 30 days after the due date and invoice receipt (§286 BGB). Default interest is the base rate plus 9 percentage points, which is 10.52% a year since 1 July 2026 with the 1.52% base rate. There’s also a €40 flat fee per overdue invoice (§288 BGB). Include late-payment assumptions in your forecast, and put payment terms on every invoice (see our invoicing guide).
Kleinunternehmer. If you use the VAT exemption, you skip UStVA payments, which removes one cash drain. Income-tax prepayments still apply.
Health insurance. This is a fixed monthly cost for the self-employed, so enter it as a recurring item. See our health insurance comparison guide.
The tools
All price and feature comparisons below come from vendor-published or competitor pages, so treat them as starting points and check each provider’s own site.
Agicap
Agicap is the best-known specialist in these comparisons. It connects to banks and accounting systems such as DATEV, lexoffice, and sevDesk, and generates a forward-looking forecast with scenarios. Pricing is on request. Third-party pages report roughly €49–149 a month, and one says small businesses often pay over €3,000 a year.
Good for: Growing businesses with several accounts or entities.
Tidely
Tidely is bank-based and aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, with personal onboarding. A competitor’s table lists it from roughly €35–39 a month for one company, one bank account, and one accounting integration. That page is a year old, so confirm current pricing.
Good for: Small businesses that want a lean tool with onboarding.
Commitly and finban
Commitly offers a clear dashboard with a VAT forecast, reported from about €39–45 a month. finban is described as the cheapest entry for solo businesses, from about €26 a month. Both come from a competitor’s page, so verify.
Good for: Solo and very small businesses watching costs.
Accounting apps with a cash flow view (lexoffice, sevDesk, Papierkram)
One review says lexoffice offers a cash flow overview with a forecast and bank sync from about €7.90 a month, but not real liquidity planning. It rates sevDesk’s and Papierkram’s forecasting as limited. These are good first steps if you already use them. See our bookkeeping guide.
Good for: Businesses that only need a quick view, not scenarios.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Approach | Price (as reported) | Best for | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agicap | Bank and ERP synced forecast | On request; ~€49-149/month reported | Growing SMEs | Price opaque |
| Tidely | Bank-based forecast | ~€35-39/month | Small SMEs | Pricing page is dated |
| Commitly / finban | Bank-based | ~€26-45/month | Solo and small | Competitor-sourced |
| lexoffice, sevDesk, Papierkram | Cash flow overview | From ~€7.90-9/month | Basic view | Limited forecasting |
Prices change often, so confirm them on each provider’s site.
Which one should you choose?
- Already use lexoffice or sevDesk and want a quick view: start with the built-in overview.
- Need scenarios and a real forecast: try Agicap, Tidely, Commitly, or finban on their free trials.
- Solo business on a budget: compare finban and Commitly.
- Whatever you choose: add your tax prepayment dates, VAT, and recurring costs by hand if the tool doesn’t import them.
FAQ
Do I need a tool, or is Excel enough?
Excel works for a simple forecast. One comparison notes spreadsheets stop matching reality after a few months without bank sync, so decide based on how many accounts and invoices you have.
Does a forecasting tool know my tax prepayments?
Not automatically. Enter them from your Steuerbescheid and the dates above.
Do Freiberufler pay trade tax?
No. Trade-tax prepayments apply only to Gewerbetreibende. See our Freiberufler vs Gewerbe guide.
How far ahead should I forecast?
Sources vary. One mentions a 13-week view for businesses. Choose a horizon that covers your next tax dates.
Sources: Saxony tax calendar, Steuerschroeder tax dates 2026, Rechner-Hub prepayment guide, Juraforum: Vorauszahlungen, Zahlungsziele und Verzugszinsen (§288 BGB), Verzugszinsen 2026 (Lulius), Qonto: liquidity software, Foreqast comparison
Comments
Post a Comment