Buy Payroll Software – Wage & Salary Processing as a Licence

Payroll is one of the most complex and error-prone tasks in running a business – with constantly changing legal requirements in tax law, social security and employment law. Professional payroll software ensures that all payslips are produced correctly, on time and in compliance with the law – and updates itself automatically when legislation changes. In the Financial Accounting section of Lizenzindustrie you will find leading payroll software as verified licences – delivered by email at a price well below the official list price.

Why is professional payroll software so important?

Payroll is legally demanding – and mistakes can be expensive. Incorrectly calculated wage tax, wrong social security contributions or missed deadlines can lead to back payments, fines and, in the worst case, criminal consequences. At the same time, the relevant legal requirements change regularly:

• Wage tax tables, basic allowances and tax-free allowances are adjusted every year
• Social security contribution rates and contribution ceilings change regularly, usually at the turn of the year
• Minimum wage rules are adjusted regularly
• New supplement rules, allowances and flat rates are introduced
• Reporting obligations to health insurance funds and the tax office change

Professional payroll software is updated automatically whenever relevant legislation changes – so payroll is always legally up to date without the business owner having to keep track of every change themselves.

What should good payroll software be able to do?

• Automatic calculation of wage tax, church tax, solidarity surcharge and all social security contributions – correct for all tax classes, wage tax allowances and individual payroll attributes.
• ELSTER interface for the direct electronic submission of the wage tax return to the tax office via ELSTER, the German tax authorities' online portal – on time and without manual transfer.
• DEÜV notifications (the German Data Capture and Transmission Regulation) for the automatic transmission of all social security notifications to the health insurance funds – registrations, deregistrations, contribution statements.
• Payslips for employees – required by law, created at the touch of a button.
• Payroll journal and payroll list for the internal documentation of all payroll runs.
• Automatic updates when legislation changes – new wage tax tables, amended contribution rates and new regulations are installed automatically.
• Interface to accounting for automatically transferring payroll postings to your accounting software.
• GoBD compliance (German principles for proper digital record-keeping) for the audit-proof retention of all payroll records.

Special challenges in payroll

In addition to the basic salary calculation, payroll software must correctly handle many other special cases:

Minijobs and Midijobs: Marginal employees and employees in the transition zone (Midijob) – both German forms of low-paid employment – are subject to special social security and wage tax rules – professional software calculates these correctly and automatically.

Short-time work: Short-time work allowance (Kurzarbeitergeld) calculations are complex – the software must calculate and document the allowance correctly and submit the relevant notifications to the German Federal Employment Agency.

Benefits in kind: Company cars, meal vouchers, public transport tickets and other benefits in kind must be correctly valued and taxed – including application of the current exemption limits.

Capital-forming benefits: Payments under the German capital-formation scheme (VWL) must be correctly processed and transferred to the relevant building societies or funds.

Attachment of earnings: Where wages are garnished, the protected subsistence minimum must be calculated correctly and the attachable amount withheld automatically.

The most important payroll software solutions at a glance

• Lexware Lohn + Gehalt – Lexware Lohn + Gehalt is one of the most widely used payroll solutions for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany. Complete payroll for all types of employee, ELSTER connectivity, DEÜV notifications, automatic legal updates and seamless integration with Lexware Buchhaltung. The Pro version is also suitable for larger workforces and multiple clients.
• WISO Lohn & Gehalt – WISO Lohn & Gehalt by Buhl Data Service offers professional payroll with a particularly user-friendly interface – ideal for businesses without a dedicated payroll specialist. Full legal updates, an ELSTER interface and solid payroll quality.
• Sage Lohn & Gehalt – With Sage Lohn & Gehalt, Sage offers a powerful payroll solution for medium-sized businesses with more complex requirements – with extended multi-client management and extensive reporting functions.
• Datev Lohn und Gehalt – DATEV Lohn und Gehalt is the preferred solution of tax advisers and payroll bureaux for processing their clients' payroll – with a wide range of functions and deep integration into the DATEV ecosystem.

Do your own payroll or outsource it?

Many small businesses face the question of whether to handle payroll themselves or outsource it to a tax adviser or payroll bureau.

Doing it yourself makes sense if your workforce is stable, there are few special cases and you have time to get to grips with the software. With professional payroll software and automatic legal updates, in-house payroll is perfectly manageable even without in-depth expertise.

Outsourcing makes sense if staff change frequently, there are many special cases (attachments of earnings, short-time work, different types of employment) or you do not have time to learn the software. The cost of having payroll done externally by a tax adviser is manageable and often lower than the cost of your own time.

How buying from Lizenzindustrie works

Buying payroll software from Lizenzindustrie is quick and straightforward. Choose your product, add it to the basket, complete your purchase – you will receive your licence key by email, usually within 5 to 30 minutes after payment is received (daily 9:00–21:00). No physical shipping.

• ✔ Delivery by email – licence key usually 5 to 30 minutes after payment is received (daily 9:00–21:00)
• ✔ Verified licences – can be activated via the manufacturer's official servers
• ✔ Considerably cheaper than the official list price
• ✔ ELSTER & DEÜV interfaces – all reporting obligations met
• ✔ Automatic legal updates – always up to date
• ✔ GoBD-compliant – audit-proof payroll records
• ✔ Traceable origin – licences from distributors and wholesalers in Europe
• ✔ Fast support – we help you quickly if you have questions

To go with it, you will also find solutions for business management and inventory management as well as tax software. Our Support and Service team will answer your questions about choosing the right payroll software free of charge.

Frequently asked questions about payroll software

When is the wage tax return due?

For monthly filers, the wage tax return must be submitted to the tax office by the 10th of the following month. Quarterly and annual filers have correspondingly longer deadlines. Professional payroll software reminds you of the deadline automatically and submits the wage tax return directly to the tax office via ELSTER.

What is the difference between wage tax and income tax?

Wage tax is a form of advance payment of income tax for employees – it is withheld directly by the employer and paid to the tax office. Income tax is finally calculated as part of the annual tax return – with the wage tax already paid being credited against it.

What is the difference between Lexware Lohn and WISO Lohn?

Lexware Lohn + Gehalt and WISO Lohn & Gehalt both offer complete payroll functionality. Lexware is positioned somewhat more strongly in the mid-sized business segment and offers more depth for complex requirements. WISO scores with particularly easy operation and is especially popular with small businesses without dedicated payroll staff.

How many employees can I process with the software?

That depends on the licence. Entry-level solutions are often limited to a certain number of employees – Pro or Premium versions allow an unlimited number of employees. When buying, check the maximum number of employees covered by the licence you choose.

How quickly will I receive my licence key?

Usually 5 to 30 minutes after payment is received (daily 9:00–21:00) – your activation key is delivered by email. Activation via the manufacturer's official servers takes just a few minutes.