Self employed Uk contract Germany

[Manuh]

Hello,
I am a Uk resident, self employed and working from home (Uk).
My customer is in Germany. I traveled there only 3 days per month.
I am working for them for years. Now, they might stop my contract as I am working for them for more than 2 years. There is a German law regarding freelancer with the two years limitation.
As I am an Uk resident (tax and vat) in Uk, does the German two years rule applied to me ?
Anyone with similar situation ? If so, any information will be much appreciated.
Thanks

[GhostofTarbera]

Law or client rule ?


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[WTFH]

Hello,
I am a Uk resident, self employed and working from home (Uk).
My customer is in Germany. I traveled there only 3 days per month.
I am working for them for years. Now, they might stop my contract as I am working for them for more than 2 years. There is a German law regarding freelancer with the two years limitation.
As I am an Uk resident (tax and vat) in Uk, does the German two years rule applied to me ?
Anyone with similar situation ? If so, any information will be much appreciated.
Thanks

The German law will apply to the German company. Where they get their contractors from is a separate thing, so no, just because you are a UK citizen does not mean that when working in Germany that German law does not apply to you.

[MJHolohan]

I don't know the specifics on German law but it sounds like a similar rule to the UK. Some things I would consider are:

Are you concerned about the company terminating your contract or being on the wrong side of the law? If it's the former there is not much you can do. If it's the latter are you concerned enough to change job? Sounds like a similiar rule as they have in the UK and given how difficult HMRC finds it to enforce that I would think you should not have too much to worry about. If the law does apply to you I would still think you would be pretty far from their radar given you are not paying tax there and are only travelling to the workplace for 3 days a month.

I do have a client who does contract work in Germany so could probably find out. Get in touch if you would like me to do some research.

[BlasterBates]

Yes that is the rule, no longer than 2 years as a contractor. Of course if you are only travelling a few days a month to Germany it may well not apply, but the company isn't going to go out on a limb to keep you on. It isn't worth their while, i.e. they will simply apply it to all contractors.