DATEV Review: Is It The Right Accounting Software For Your Team?

DATEV is a cooperative (eG) and one of Europe's largest software companies, serving over 40,000 members including tax consultants, auditors, and legal professionals. As a fundamental part of Germany's tax and accounting infrastructure, DATEV is used by 60-80% of German businesses indirectly through their tax advisors. The platform processes approximately 14 million payroll and salary calculations monthly and offers over 200 software products across tax advisory, auditing, legal services, and business management. DATEV operates on a unique cooperative model where pricing and access are managed through authorized tax advisor partnerships rather than direct SaaS subscriptions. The platform provides cloud-based applications including DATEV Unternehmen Online for business owners, DATEV Arbeitnehmer Online for employees, and DATEV Meine Steuern for tax filing. It serves as the backbone of German professional advisory services, enabling digital collaboration between advisory firms and their SMB clients.