Registering Your Cash Register with FinanzOnline: Step by Step

Why is registering your cash register with FinanzOnline mandatory?

Under RKSV requirements, every electronic cash register used in Austria must be registered on the official FinanzOnline portal. This registration is part of legal compliance and a prerequisite for operating the till lawfully.

Requirements for registration

• Active FinanzOnline access for the business (or access via your tax advisor).
• A signature-creation unit (e.g. an A-Trust signature card or an HSM service) connected to the till.
• The cash register ID (Kassenidentifikationsnummer) – the unique number that identifies your till in the system.
• The AES-256 key (44-character user key) from your POS software.
• The serial number of the signature certificate of your signature-creation unit.

Step-by-step guide to registration

1. Log in to FinanzOnline and open the “Registrierkassen” (cash registers) section.
2. Register the signature or security device: enter the type of device and the certificate's serial number.
3. Register the cash register: enter the cash register ID and the AES-256 key.
4. Create the start receipt (Startbeleg): immediately after registration, issue a receipt for 0 euros from the till.
5. Retrieve the authentication code for the Belegcheck-App in FinanzOnline.
6. Verify the start receipt: scan the start receipt's QR code with the BMF Belegcheck-App – setup is only complete once the result reads “Beleg gültig” (receipt valid).

The start receipt (Startbeleg)

After successful registration, the till issues a zero-euro start receipt. This is verified with the free BMF Belegcheck-App: scan the QR code, enter the authentication code from FinanzOnline once, and wait for the result. The check should be carried out promptly after registration – within one week is the established rule of thumb. Your tax advisor can also carry out the check for you.

After registration: the annual receipt (Jahresbeleg) and ongoing obligations

Setup is not the end of it: at the end of the year, every cash register produces an annual receipt (Jahresbeleg) – usually the December monthly receipt – which must be verified with the Belegcheck-App by 15 February of the following year at the latest. If the till is out of action for longer than 48 hours, the outage must be reported via FinanzOnline – you can find the details in our article Cash register down: what to do?. The basics of the cash register obligation are explained in our RKSV guide.

Common registration mistakes

• Forgetting to issue and confirm the start receipt;
• Entering the cash register ID or serial number incorrectly;
• Registering late after you've already started using the till.

Summary

Registering your cash register with FinanzOnline is a technical but necessary step for RKSV compliance. Lonio's POS system makes setup and technical support for this process easier for Austrian businesses. Get in touch for further guidance. This article is for general information only; for the exact registration steps, we recommend consulting a tax advisor (Steuerberater).

Is registering the till with FinanzOnline free?

Yes, registration via the official FinanzOnline portal is free of charge.

What is the start receipt?

A zero-euro receipt that must be issued and confirmed after registration to complete setup.

What happens if I forget to register the till?

It can be treated as a violation of RKSV during a tax audit.

How long does registration take?

The online process in FinanzOnline usually takes only a few minutes, provided the technical details are ready.

Who may verify the start receipt?

You can do it yourself with the BMF Belegcheck-App – or your tax advisor, who can carry out the verification via FinanzOnline for you.

Note: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for legal or tax advice. For your business's specific situation, please contact your tax advisor.