What is the German Transparency Register? Overview + FAQ

Contents

What is the Transparency register?

The transparency register 💬Transparenzregister is a central database in Germany that records information about a company’s beneficial owners—the natural persons who ultimately own, oversee, control or profit from the business.

Its purpose is to make ownership and control structures more transparent and to help combat money laundering and the financing of illegal activities. Most companies are required to report specific data so their financial flows can be clearly traced.

The Transparency Register was introduced in 2017 to implement the EU Directive on Money Laundering (2015/849). The Federal Ministry of Finance appointed the Bundesanzeiger Verlag GmbH as the registering authority.

Who has to register with the Transparency Register?

All corporations have to report to the Transparency Register. The registration process involves transmitting select company data of the beneficial owners:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Place of residence
• Type and scope of financial interest
• Nationality

Any changes to the data must be reported or updated via the portal immediately.

The legal representatives of the companies, i.e. managing directors or members of an AG board of directors are responsible for reporting the data to the register.

What type of businesses must report to the Transparency Register?

The obligation to register applies to the following companies as of August 2021:

• Legal entities under private law
  • UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
  • GmbH
  • Stock corporations
  • Registered associations
  • Foundations with legal capacity
  • and others
• Registered partnerships
  • KG
  • OHG
  • PartG
  • and others
• Non-legal foundations & trusts

Foundations without legal capacity has to register if its has a for-profit purpose (i.e. not charitable). The same goes for trusts and other comparable legal structures.

How do I register with the Transparency Register?

Registration with the transparency register is a two-step process that happens online at transparenzregister.de.

The first step is to complete the basic registration. Click on the “Register now” button and fill in the form. Then look out for a confirmation email. Make sure you confirm the basic registration within 24 hours.

The second step is the advanced registration. Using the functionalities in the user account is only possible once the company has completed the advanced registration. At this point, you can register the beneficial owners and request to search the register.

To take the next step, log in to the transparency register with your info from the basic registration and switch the language to English at the top on the right-hand side. Click the “Open advanced registration” button and follow the guide.

Once the advanced registration is successful, go to “My data” and select whether you wish to register beneficial owners or search the transparency register—and then complete the respective forms.

Discrepancy reports for false and missing data

If the data in the register entry is incorrect or out of date, the company must file an electronic discrepancy report. However, filing a discrepancy report is only possible if the company or foundation has previously registered online.

Discrepancies exist, for example, if the data of beneficial owners differ from the information in the transparency register or are missing. The truthful disclosure of data also refers to personal circumstances such as the nationality, date of birth or address of a beneficial owner.

The legislation is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Office of Administration 💬Bundesverwaltungsamt, including penalties for late, false or incomplete information.

Fines for false and missing information

It’s great that you’re educating yourself about the transparency register because there are sanctions for violating your registration or reporting obligations or for failure to correct a discrepancy. As always, ignorance of the law is not a defense.

For minor infringements, the fine is up to €100,000. For more serious violations or repeat offences, penalties can be as high as a million euros. Insurance or capital management companies that violate their obligations face fines of up to five millions euros. Alternatively, the legislator can demand 10% of the previous year’s turnover of an infringing company.

Inspection of the Transparency Register

Inspecting the register makes it possible to get a huge amount of information about a company. However, due to the sensitive nature of the data, powers to inspect and obtain information are strictly limited.

All authorities have permission to access the data they need to fulfil their duties. Companies listed in the transparency register can only access other companies’ data for due diligence reasons. Members of the public must show ‘grounds of legitimate interest‘ (ie, a justified reason) to inspect the register.

Costs

Registration and notifications to the register-keeping body are free of charge. There is annual fee for maintaining the entry applies. The current fee is €19.80 (2025).

Who can apply for a fee exemption?

Since 2020, non-profit organisations and companies can apply for exemption from entry in the transparency register and its costs. This fee exemption is granted only by application by the organisation.

When applying, they must prove its non-profit status via activities that promote an overall religious or ethical purpose (§§ 52-58 AO). However, this is a standard part of forming a non-profit so it should be a straightforward.

Regulations on fees and costs are in the transparency register fees ordinance.

Note: This is one of many registrations you have to take care of when starting a company. Read more about the standard process of registering a new business in Germany.