Expiry of the TSE certificate “Bundesdruckerei D-TRUST”

In its letter dated 8 July 2022, the German Federal Ministry of Finance informs about the expiry of the certificate of the technical security device “Bundesdruckerei D-TRUST TSE, Version 1.0” of cv cryptovision GmbH.

The current certificate “BSI-K-TR-0491-2021”, for the above-mentioned TSE, is only valid for a limited period until 07.01.2023. According to the BSI, the requirements for connection certification according to the technical guidelines “BSI TR-03153-2 Regulation 2” have not yet been met at present.

More information is available on the BSI website:

Sources:

FinanzOnline-operations disrupted

We have just received notification of planned extensive maintenance work at the Austrian Federal Computing Centre. On Saturday, 21.05.2022, in the time between 07:00 and 22:00, the FinanzOnline service, among others, will not be available. Even outside this time window, there may be disruptions in the operation of FinanzOnline between Sat. 21.05, 0:00 hrs and Sun. 22.05.2022, 23:00 hrs.

We recommend that you plan accordingly for this when planning any commissioning of cash registers. During this time, FinanzOnline cannot process any notifications. The RetailForce system will forward any FinanzOnline-notifications received during the above-mentioned period as soon as possible.

Information on country implementations

We are currently working on the implementation of fiscalisation regulations in several countries. In the near future, RetailForce Fiscal Middleware can also be used to comply with fiscal laws in the countries of France, Denmark, Sweden and Bulgaria.

Denmark

Already with version 1.2.11, first preparations for the implementation of the Danish regulation on “Digital Sales Registration Systems” were provided. The upcoming version 1.2.12 of the Fiscal Client represents a first beta version for use in Denmark, the planned major version 1.3 will be the stable version. The RetailForce Fiscal middleware performs the required signing of the receipts, generates a data export in Danish SAF-T format and archives the data securely in the RetailForce Cloud Archive for the entire duration of the legal retention period.

France

As for Denmark, version 1.2.11 of the Fiscal Client contained changes needed for the implementation of the French fiscal regulations. RetailForce is currently working on the implementation of Infocert’s certification guidelines (NF525). The “Technical Journal” included in the above-mentioned version is required for the implementation of both the Danish and the French requirements. A first beta version for the French implementation will be made available in April. With this, the implementation work can be started and a certification process can be applied for at Infocert.

Sweden

By around the middle of the year, we will expand our portfolio with another fiscal country implementation. With the connection to a so-called control unit (Danish “Kontrollenheter”) we provide a solution to comply with the Swedish Cash Register Act. In addition to this connection, we archive the fiscal data in accordance with regulations in the secure RetailForce Cloud Archive. Please note: in addition to the use of a control unit, certification of the cash register is required in Sweden.

Bulgaria

After we had to pause the work on Bulgaria for the time being due to project reasons, we have now resumed the implementation work. A beta version will soon also be available for the transpositions of the Bulgarian regulations. The first pilot installations have already been commissioned.

Do you need help with the implementation of fiscal regulations in specific countries, or in one of the countries already covered by the RetailForce Fiscal Middleware? We will of course be happy to advise you! Simply write us a message or use the contact form.

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.

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