Guide · EU-DE
Germany shop checklist.
The points German online shops are commonly expected to cover, with the official source for each. Use it to prepare a conversation with your counsel, not to replace it.
Last checked: 10 November 2026
Pages and notices
Impressum
The imprint: who runs the shop, a postal address, fast contact details (email and a second channel), the company register entry and the VAT ID where there is one. Reachable from every page, usually in the footer.
In Shopify: A page under Online Store › Pages, linked in the footer menu.
Widerrufsbelehrung
The withdrawal notice for consumers: the 14-day right of withdrawal, how to exercise it, and a model withdrawal form. German law provides an official model text; many shops start from it rather than translating their own policy.
In Shopify: Settings › Policies (refund policy), in German, plus a link in the footer and in the order confirmation.
Source: § 312g and § 355 BGB · Art. 246a EGBGB and model text (Anlage 1)
Withdrawal function
Since 19 June 2026, EU rules require online traders to offer a withdrawal function: a clearly labelled way to withdraw from a contract online. Check with your counsel how this applies to your shop and to Shopify's checkout.
Source: Directive (EU) 2023/2673, Art. 11a of Directive 2011/83/EU
Datenschutzerklärung
The privacy notice, in German: what personal data the shop collects, why, who receives it (payment, shipping, analytics apps) and the customer's rights.
In Shopify: Settings › Policies (privacy policy), reviewed for every app you have installed.
Source: GDPR, Art. 13
Dispute resolution
The EU online dispute resolution (ODR) platform closed on 20 July 2025: remove old links to it. Some traders must still say whether they take part in consumer arbitration.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/3228 · § 36 VSBG
Prices
VAT-inclusive prices
Consumer prices are shown as total prices, VAT included, with a note that VAT is included and whether shipping costs are extra. Shipping costs are stated before checkout.
In Shopify: The tax settings of your German market (prices including tax), and a shipping information page.
Source: § 3 PAngV (total price) · § 6 PAngV (distance selling)
Grundpreis
The unit price for goods sold by weight, volume, length or area (per kilogram, litre, metre or square metre), shown close to the total price.
In Shopify: The unit price fields on each variant. Check that your theme displays them on product and collection pages.
Source: § 4 PAngV
Price reductions
When you advertise a reduction, the reference price is the lowest price of the previous 30 days.
Source: § 11 PAngV
Checkout
Order button
The final button must make clear that the order is binding and must be paid for, for example „zahlungspflichtig bestellen“ or equivalent wording.
In Shopify: The German checkout texts of your theme and Shopify's checkout language settings.
Source: § 312j BGB
Product information
For consumer products: manufacturer name and contact, product identifiers and any warnings or safety information, shown on the listing. Sellers outside the EU need an economic operator in the EU.
Registrations
VAT on cross-border sales
Once your distance sales to consumers in other EU countries pass €10,000 a year, VAT on sales to German consumers is due at the German rate. The One-Stop Shop (OSS) lets you declare it in one place. Sellers outside the EU have their own schemes.
Packaging (VerpackG)
Shops that ship packaged goods to consumers in Germany register with the central packaging register (LUCID) before selling, and pay a dual system for that packaging. This includes sellers based outside Germany.
Source: Verpackungsgesetz · Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (LUCID)
Electronics and batteries
If you sell electrical equipment or batteries, there are separate registrations, and sellers without a German establishment need an authorised representative.
Source: stiftung ear (ElektroG, BattDG)
Where translation fits
Every page above needs German text. Once your counsel has approved the content, it goes into Shopify like the rest of your store, and we translate the shop around it: products, collections, menus and checkout texts. See selling on Shopify in Germany for formats, sizes and payment methods.