Gewerberegisterauszug

The trade register is kept by the local regulatory authorities (independent town, large town belonging to a district, municipality without a district, local authority) and contains all companies and businesses registered in accordance with the Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act (GewO) that have their registered office in the respective municipality.

Public bodies and private individuals can obtain an extract from the trade register on request. The consent of the person concerned for the disclosure of his data is not required.

The name of the business or owner, the business address and the indicated activity are generally accessible. For extended trade register information beyond this, a legal interest must be proven (for example, to assert legal claims; granting of credit to the trader).

There is no legal entitlement for third parties to be informed of the data. The trade register is not a public register (such as the commercial, cooperative or association register). The provision of information is at the discretion of the competent authority.

The information from the Trade Register corresponds to what has been reported to the Trade Registration Office up to the time the information is provided. The authority does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the information.

As a rule, no information is provided about deregistered businesses. This means that information can be provided in specific individual cases if a request for information is linked to a credible interest (e.g. in the case of legal proceedings, insolvencies and claims of other kinds).

An informal, written application must be submitted with the following information:

• name of the company or trader
• last known address
• personal data
• in the case of extended information: substantiation of the legal interest by describing the facts of the case and enclosing existing documents (e.g. debt instruments, copies of contracts, invoices).

Verbal requests are not admissible.

Administrative fees of between 5 and 23 euros are charged for the information in accordance with the M-V Trade Costs Ordinance. Fees are also incurred if the business/trader sought could not be identified.

The application for information from the Trade Register can be submitted in person, in writing or electronically. Online information can be obtained only from the administrations connected to the system. For citizens, only simple information is provided online. Extended information can be provided online to companies. For extended information, citizens should contact the competent authority.

The competent authority checks the application for completeness and whether there is a legal interest in obtaining information from the business register. If the request is granted, the extract from the trade register is sent after the examination. The notice of the fee is sent by mail.

Maximum 3 months

Information from the trade register

Local regulatory authority (independent town, large town belonging to a district, municipality not belonging to a district and head of an office) in whose district the trader, about whom a trade register information is obtained, has his place of business.

Forms are available from the local trade authority.