Applying for a clearance certificate (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung) in Dortmund
Clearance certificate in Dortmund: the city's tax certificate (Bescheinigung in Steuersachen) is issued by the Stadtkasse und Steueramt (city treasury and tax office) at Löwenstraße 11. Online with prepayment or Giropay it costs 18 euros, with a fee notice 25.50 euros. It proves that you have no tax arrears with the city. Our fixed price: 49.90 euros.
Tax clearance certificate Dortmund
- Responsible office
- Stadtkasse und Steueramt, Bereich Steuern
- Official fee
- online with prepayment €18 · with a fee notice €25.50
- How to apply
- online · in writing · in person
- Documents
- ID card; companies: commercial register extract
All details (4)Show less
- Address
- Löwenstraße 11, 44135 Dortmund · Phone 0231 50-22837 · stadtkasse@dortmund.de
- Purpose
- proof to authorities that there are no tax arrears with the city of Dortmund
- Processing time
- not published by the city of Dortmund
- Behördenfix fixed price
- €49.90 including the city's fee
As of: 26.10.2026 · Source: Stadt Dortmund
How we apply for it
- 1Give your detailsName, address, company, purpose.
- 2Upload documentsID, for companies the register extract.
- 3Pay the fixed priceThe city's fee is included.
- 4Application to the StadtkasseWe apply with your power of attorney.
Applying at the Stadtkasse Dortmund yourself
The way without us, step by step
Without us, you apply for the certificate directly at the Stadtkasse Dortmund. The city names three ways:
- Online via the «Online-Formular (Bescheinigung in Steuersachen)» on the service page. With prepayment or Giropay the certificate costs 18 euros there.
- In writing to Stadt Dortmund, Stadtkasse und Steueramt, Löwenstraße 11, 44135 Dortmund, or to stadtkasse@dortmund.de. With payment by fee notice it is 25.50 euros.
- In person at Löwenstraße 11: Monday and Tuesday 8 to 12 and 13 to 15.30, Wednesday and Friday 8 to 12, Thursday 8 to 12 and 13 to 17.
- Bring or enclose: ID card; for legal entities a commercial register extract.
- Costs compared: yourself you pay 18 or 25.50 euros. With us 49.90 euros including the city's fee; we handle the form, documents and follow-up.
- We are not an authority and do not check tax accounts. Only the Stadtkasse determines whether there are arrears.
Documents needed
- A copy of your ID card.
- For a GmbH or UG: commercial register extract.
More documents (3)Show less
- Name or company and address in Dortmund.
- The purpose, e.g. restaurant licence, taxi licence or public tender.
- Your power of attorney for Behördenfix, which you sign when ordering.
What is special in Dortmund
Two prices depending on payment
Dortmund names two fees for the same certificate: 18 euros online with prepayment, 25.50 euros with a fee notice.
More about Dortmund (4)Show less
The difference of 7.50 euros depends only on the payment method. Köln charges 20 euros, Düsseldorf 10 euros; Essen issues the certificate free of charge.
According to the city, it is needed above all for public tenders and for trades that require a permit: restaurants, itinerant trade, amusement arcades, taxi and hire car services, and brokers, property developers and insurance intermediaries under § 34 ff. of the Trade Regulation Act. When registering such activities, the Ordnungsamt also requires the permit certificate.
Do not confuse: the Finanzamt (tax office) issues its own tax certificate, which is colloquially also called Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung. It contains details on income tax, VAT or wage tax, for example, and is free of charge in North Rhine-Westphalia. The city's certificate concerns municipal taxes.
At the Finanzamt you apply informally, electronically via ELSTER, in writing or by phone, with name, tax number or identification number and the number of copies. According to the tax administration, newly founded businesses receive a note that there has been little contact with the Finanzamt so far.
Questions about the clearance certificate in Dortmund
When do you have to show the certificate?
According to the city of Dortmund, above all for public tenders and for trades requiring a permit, such as restaurants, itinerant trade, amusement arcades, taxi and hire car businesses, brokers, property developers and insurance intermediaries. Which office requires it in which procedure is decided by that office; we do not assess this. When registering activities that require a permit, the Ordnungsamt also requires the permit certificate.
How much does the certificate cost in Dortmund?
When applying online and paying by prepayment or Giropay 18 euros, when paying by fee notice 25.50 euros. The basis is the city of Dortmund's administrative fee statute. With us the certificate costs 49.90 euros including the city's fee, application and follow-up. If you pay yourself, applying online with prepayment saves you 7.50 euros compared with the fee notice.
Is this the same as the tax office certificate?
No. The Finanzamt issues its own tax certificate, with details on types of tax, tax debts and punctuality of payments and returns. In NRW it is free of charge and only valid in the original. The city of Dortmund's certificate proves that there are no tax arrears with the city.
Can I apply for the certificate online?
Yes. The city of Dortmund offers an online form for the tax certificate on its service page. If you apply online and pay by prepayment or Giropay, you pay 18 euros instead of 25.50 euros. Applying in writing or in person at Löwenstraße 11 is also possible.
Which documents do I need?
The city of Dortmund names the ID card and, for legal entities such as a GmbH or UG, a commercial register extract. You get the extract from the Amtsgericht. For our application, your power of attorney is added, which you sign when ordering. The city's service page names no further proof; there is no printable form either, only the online form.
What is in the tax office certificate?
According to the NRW tax administration: name and address, date of birth or foundation, tax number and identification number, the types of tax kept, the amount of tax debts, punctuality of payments and returns, and details on tax offences. It has no period of validity; the office you present it to decides on that. In English it is called Certificate in Tax Matters.
Official sources
- Stadt Dortmund – Bescheinigung in Steuersachen (Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung), read on 26.10.2026
- Stadt Dortmund – Gewerbeanmeldung, read on 26.10.2026
- Finanzverwaltung NRW – Bescheinigung in Steuersachen, read on 26.10.2026
Reviewed by M. Gabal on 26.10.2026
Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix submits the application to the Stadtkasse with your power of attorney. We are not an authority, do not give tax advice and do not assess your individual case.