FinanzOnline maintenance window – beginning of November 2021

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance asks for your understanding and informs you that FinanzOnline will not be available on Wednesday, 3 November 2021 in the period from 15:30 to 18:30 (CET). Furthermore, operations may be disrupted between 18:30 and 19:30.

As usual, the RetailForce system forwards any cash register messages (registrations, deregistrations, message of failed signature creation devices) to FinanzOnline as soon as the portal is available again without restrictions. We recommend that cash register registrations are carried out at a later date, if possible.

Return to Standard Time FinanzOnline

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance informs: Due to the changeover from daylight saving time to standard time, FinanzOnline will not be available on Sunday, 31 Oct. 2021 from 02:00 summer time (CEST) until presumably 03:30 standard time (CET).

As usual, the RetailForce system forwards any cash register messages (registrations, deregistrations, message of failed signature creation devices) to FinanzOnline as soon as the portal is available again without restrictions. We recommend that cash register registrations are carried out at a later date, if possible.

Extensive maintenance work FinanzOnline

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance informs: Due to extensive maintenance work at the Federal Computing Centre, FinanzOnline will not be available on Sunday 24.10.2021 from 07:00 to 21:00. The maintenance work affects the network, servers and databases. Furthermore, the operation of the platform may also be affected outside of this time already on Saturday 23 Oct. 2021 07:00 until Sunday 24 Oct. 2021 07:00.

As usual, the RetailForce system forwards any cash register messages (registrations, deregistrations, message of failed signature creation devices) to FinanzOnline as soon as the portal is available again without restrictions. We recommend that cash register registrations are carried out at a later date, if possible.

Fiscal Client – new version 1.2

As of today, 14/10/2021, the new version 1.2 of the Fiscal Client is available.

Besides some fixes, the current version also provides several new functions. In parallel with the new version, we have also added a number of features to the RetailForce Cloud. The update also provides some new functionalities for the “digital receipt” within the client as well as in the cloud portal.

  • RestoreByCloud – Restore configuration data of a client
  • Terminal archiving
  • Seasonal management for cash registers
  • Contract management in the cloud

Extension for Digital Receipts

As of the 1.2 update, digital receipts can be displayed within the RetailForce Cloud Portal. In order to find the corresponding document, a document search has been integrated.

Receipt search and display are components of the new product “Digital Receipt Advanced”. While the “Digital Receipt Light” package stores electronic receipts for 30 days, the Advanced package offers a receipt archive for storage in accordance with the original document for a period of 10 years. The same goes for analysis functions – from now on, you can track which receipts were actually retrieved by the customer. In the course of the next updates, we will expand the range of functions in this area.

Digital Receipt – offline

With the “Offline digital receipt”, you can now send your customers digital receipts even if the internet connection is not available for a short period of time. This feature can be used when utilizing the Fiscal Client. If the client cannot connect to the RetailForce Cloud at the moment, it generates a QR code (receipt reference) at the checkout, which the checkout displays to the customer – for example via the customer display. As soon as the connection to the cloud is re-established, the client transmits the receipt reference together with the actual receipt to the RetailForce Cloud. If the customer scans the QR code at the checkout and the digital receipt is not yet in the cloud infrastructure, they are redirected to a page. On this page, the customer can enter his or her e-mail address. As soon as the receipt arrives in the cloud, it is forwarded to the email address entered. The e-mail address will only be used for this purpose and will be deleted after the receipt has been sent.

For an overview of the changes and new functions, see the Release Notes at: https://www.retailforce.cloud/downloads/Version%201.2.0/ReleaseNotes1.2.0.md

October Maintenance Window FinanzOnline – Austria

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance asks for your understanding and informs, that the FinanzOnline portal will not be available on Wednesday 6 October 2021 in the period from 15:30 to 18:30 due to maintenance work. Further disruptions in the operation of the portal may occur in the period from 18:30 to 19:30.

As usual, the RetailForce system forwards any cash register messages (registrations, deregistrations, message of failed signature creation devices) to FinanzOnline as soon as the portal is available again without restrictions. We recommend that cash register registrations are carried out at a later date, if possible.

Cloud Archivierung powered by RetailForce

Principles of orderly accounting

If the question arises as to how documents relevant to tax law are to be kept, the German Fiscal Code (AO) refers in §147 to the principles of proper accounting. This set of rules consisting of partly written and unwritten conventions developed from case law, recommendations by associations of business people, but also from economic practice.

In addition to the probably most important legal construct, the German Commercial Code (HGB), the tax law requirements of proper accounting are concretized and interpreted in detail by the “Principles of Proper Keeping and Retention of Books, Records and Documents in Electronic Form and of Data Access – GoBD”). This letter, published by the Federal Ministry of Finance, was last updated on 28 November 2019 and has been valid since 1 January 2020.

For a smooth audit by the tax office, such as a cash inspection, the company’s digital records should in any case comply with the GoBD.

Which impact does the GoBD have on companies?

The principles on which the GoBD is based are taken from the German Commercial Code. Specifically, these are:
Principle of:

  • Comprehensibility and verifiability
  • Completeness
  • Correctness
  • Timely entries and recording
  • Orderliness
  • Inalterability

These principles must be demonstrably met for the entire duration of the statutory retention period. However, many things can change in 10 years, so a necessary, major update of the Pos system because the software house – long overdue – has switched to a current technology is the least of the changes. In order to be able to provide the records at all in the case of an audit, a legacy system would have to continue to be operated if no complete data transfer was made from the old cash registers. Once all hurdles have been overcome, the question arises as to whether the system itself complies with the principle of the immutability of records.<

Revision proof

The term revision proved, or revision-proof archiving, is nowadays often used generally for tamper proof long-term archiving of digital content. In addition to the technical solution to store data in an unchangeable way, revision security also includes the organisational mechanisms that serve to ensure the secure operation of the solution.

In order to be considered audit-proof and thus meet the requirements of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and the GoBD, archives must in any case ensure that the data transferred to the archive is stored in a complete, unchangeable and tamper-proof manner.

RetailForce Cloud Archive

In the RetailForce Cloud Archive, the company’s valuable data is not only stored unchangeably. Rather, the decision to entrust RetailForce with data management is about risk management: RetailForce is responsible for ensuring that data integrity is maintained, i. e. that the data is available in full at the right time should an auditor enter the premises unannounced.

A piece of software transmits the receipt data from the cash register to the RetailForce cloud system immediately after it is created, for audit-proof long-term archiving in an unchangeable storage area. The geo redundant storage of the data provides additional effective protection against destruction.

Using the RetailForce Cloud Archive is an essential contribution to compliance and an efficient protective measure against the intended and unintended falsification of data.<
In addition to the audit-proof cloud archiving of the basic digital record, RetailForce also offers the fiscalization of cash register and other electronic recording systems. This means full compliance with legal fiscal regulations – soon for 21 countries!
In the next article, we will look at what other added value can be generated from the RetailForce Cloud Archive.

German Bundesrat decides on amendments to KassenSichV

In its 1006th plenary session on 25.06.2021, the German Bundesrat approved an amendment to the Cash Register Anti Tampering Ordinance (KassenSichV). These changes are reflected in the “Ordinance Amending the Cash Register Anti Tampering Ordinance”.

Exception for car park ticketing machines and e-charging stations

In its letter of 3 May of this year, the Federal Ministry of Finance had already exempted cash registers for car park management and charging points for electric or hybrid vehicles from the KassenSichV in a transitional regulation. This exemption was now decided in the course of the plenary session.

Pay stations and parking ticket machines for parking space management as well as charging points for electric or hybrid vehicles therefore do not (or no longer) have to fulfil the requirements of the KassenSichV.

The BMF justifies this step with the fact that these systems are functionally and technically comparable to ticket vending machines and ticket printers, which were excluded from the scope of the KassenSichV from the beginning.

Furthermore, parking and charging services are interconnected services, as charging usually takes place over several hours and thus (quote:) „the parking service becomes an inseparable and integral part of the charging process“ [translated from the original German quote], according to the justification why billing systems for charging services are also exempted from the KassenSichV.

Compliance for taximeters

Another change will affect so-called EU taximeters and odometers in the future. These are obliged to comply with the KassenSichV from 01.01.2024 and thus be equipped with a technical security device (TSE) like cash register systems. This serves to ensure uniform and efficient tax enforcement – according to the BMF’s justification.

The proposal contained in the recommendations to the Federal Council to extend the KassenSichV to gambling machines is not reflected in the ordinance.

Receipt verification – signature as QR code

The requirements for the cash receipt have also been expanded (§ 6 – KassenSichV). In order to make the verification of receipts more efficient and to be able to carry out cash register inspections more quickly, cash register receipts must contain two additional minimum details:

  • the check value according to § 2 sentence 2 number 7 KassenSichV, as well as
  • the consecutive counter set by the security module (= „signature counter“)

This allows receipts to be verified off the premises of the company. In the future, however, the information according to § 6 KassenSichV can be displayed as a QR-Code on the receipt as an alternative to issuing it in legible form.

The amendment to § 6 sentence 2 KassenSichV specifically:
„The information on a receipt pursuant to sentence 1 must be legible to anyone without machine assistance or readable on a QR code.“ [Translated from the German original Version].

The structure and the technical specifications for the QR code must in any case comply with the digital interface of the tax authorities (DSFinV-K).

According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, this measure will shorten the length of printed documents, which, according to estimates by the Federal Ministry, means a saving of 108,000 km of paper annually, with an equivalent value of EUR 2.1 million.

Further changes as of 1st of Jan. 2024

Furthermore, additional amendments were adopted, which – such as the exemption for EU taximeters and odometers – will come into force on 1st Jan. 2024.

  • In the future, the transaction shall contain both the serial number of the electronic recording system and the serial number of the security module: § 2 sentence 2 item 8: The serial number of the electronic recording system or and the serial number of the security module.
  • • This is also reflected in the information on the receipt: §6 sentence 2 number 6: the serial number of the electronic recording system or as well as the serial number of the security moduleand (new addition): §6 Satz 2 Ziff. 7: the verification value within the meaning of §2 sentence 2 number 7 and the consecutive signature counter determined by the security module.

Digital Receipts powered by RetailForce

You can achieve even greater savings than the changes to the KassenSichV passed by the Bundesrat (Federal Council) if you dispense with paper receipts altogether! We will be happy to advise you on digital receipt issuing via the RetailForce system. [Contact us!]

Resources

Link to protocol of 1006th plenary session of the Bundesrat: https://www.bundesrat.de/SharedDocs/termine/DE/plenum/2021/2021-06-25.html?nn=4352766

FinanzOnline maintenance window – Austria

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) informs about an upcoming maintenance window of FinanzOnline. On 01.09.2021, FinanzOnline will not be available in the period from 15:30 to 18:00. The operation of the portal may also be disrupted between 18:00 and 19:30.

If you would like to carry out a cash register registration via the cash register web service during the above-mentioned period, problems may arise due to the maintenance work. The RetailForce system will automatically forward any messages received in the meantime as soon as possible.

Short-term maintenance work FinanzOnline

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) informs about an urgent maintenance window of FinanzOnline announced at short notice. On 27/09/2021 FinanzOnline will not be available in the period from 12:15 to presumably 13:15.

If you would like to carry out a cash register registration via the cash register web service during the above-mentioned period, problems may arise due to the maintenance work. The RetailForce system will automatically forward any messages received in the meantime as soon as possible.

2nd FinanzOnline maintenance window in September

The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) informs that due to extensive maintenance work in the federal computer centre FinanzOnline will not be available on Saturday 18.09.2021, presumably from 09:00 to 20:00 CEST. Furthermore, the operation of FinanzOnline may also be affected in the period from Saturday 18.09.2021, 01:00 to Sunday 19.09.2021, 23:00.

If you want to carry out a cash register registration via the cash register web service during the above-mentioned period, problems may arise due to the maintenance work. The RetailForce system will automatically forward any messages received in the meantime as soon as possible.