Do I need a timesheet for the Forschungszulage?

To document working hours in the eligible project, you need a traceable time-tracking system. A Forschungszulage timesheet is the simplest and most commonly used solution for this.

Is there an official timesheet template?

There are sample templates (e.g. from the BMF environment) that serve as guidance. What is generally required is not a specific template, but rather clear, complete, and auditable documentation.

Which template is best: PDF, Excel, or Word?

PDF: ideal if you want to print and sign. Excel: ideal for digital recording and analysis. Word: ideal if you want to customize a template individually. You can find all suitable formats at stundenzettelvorlage.de.

How detailed does the activity description need to be?

Short, but traceable: clear enough that it remains recognizable later which activity was performed in which project context — without having to write out every individual work step.

Where can I find free timesheet templates without registration?

Directly here: stundenzettelvorlage.de (PDF, fillable PDF, Excel, Word).

Where Can I Find the Right Templates for Forschungszulage Timesheets?

Date: February 24, 2026•Author: Erich Lehmann

TL;DR – Summary

For the Forschungszulage, cleanly documented working hours are essential. A clear, traceable Forschungszulage timesheet reduces follow-up questions and helps correctly prove eligible personnel costs. Free templates (PDF/Excel/Word) are available here: stundenzettelvorlage.de.

Timesheet template for the Forschungszulage – free as PDF, Excel, and Word

Why This Article Matters (in Brief)

If you want to claim tax incentives for innovation projects, what counts is not just the idea — but also clean, auditable documentation. To determine eligible expenditures, companies must record working hours on a project-specific basis and keep them in a traceable manner. This is relevant for the technical application process (including submissions to the BSFZ) and later for the application to the tax office.

A well-maintained timesheet helps you:

Document hours systematically, clearly, and traceably,
assign the time unambiguously to an innovation or development project,
and remain audit-proof in later reviews (even years down the line).

What a "Forschungszulage Timesheet" Must Deliver

For your timesheet to be genuinely useful in practice, it should above all:

be maintained promptly,
be complete (working hours recorded traceably),
document in a project-specific way (assignment to a project),
include a brief activity description,
correctly account for public holidays and vacation days for each employee (public holidays can vary depending on the federal state),
and be set up in a way that fits into proper documentation (keyword: GoBD).

An important practical note: while there are official sample templates (e.g. from the Federal Ministry of Finance), using a specific template is generally not mandatory. What matters is that your documentation is clear and auditable.

stundenzettelvorlage.de

Free Timesheet Templates (PDF, Excel, Word)

Free templates for time tracking – ideal for the Forschungszulage. Ready to use immediately, no registration required.

Go to the template at stundenzettelvorlage.de →

Free Timesheet Template: Download Here (PDF/Excel/Word)

If you want to get started right away: at stundenzettelvorlage.de you will find free timesheet templates in common formats, for example:

PDF (ideal for printing),
fillable PDF,
Excel (digital, with structure),
Word (easy to customize).

This is especially convenient when you need a standardized starting point quickly — for example for monthly or weekly overviews.

How dieforschungszulage.de Supports You with Innovation Funding

This post is part of the blog at dieforschungszulage.de: we help companies make use of the Forschungszulage as an attractive option for innovation projects — with clear structure, straightforward context, and a focus on documentation-safe implementation.

You can find more context and entry points on our website: dieforschungszulage.de.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Check out our guides about applications and funding