Introduction to fiskaly SAFE
What is SAFE?
Section titled “What is SAFE?”fiskaly SAFE provides compliant long-term archiving of fiscal data. Tax authorities across Europe require businesses to retain fiscal records for 10-30 years in a tamper-proof, auditable format. SAFE handles the storage, immutability guarantees, and retrieval — so you do not need to build compliant archival infrastructure yourself.
Do you need SAFE?
Section titled “Do you need SAFE?”| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| You operate in Germany and need to retain fiscal data for 10+ years | Recommended — simplifies compliance with AO retention requirements |
| You already use SIGN DE and want automated archival | Use SAFE — auto-links to your SIGN/DSFinV-K data via HUB |
| You have your own archival system but need compliant storage for fiskaly exports | Use SAFE flex — upload your own documents via API |
| You need to archive non-fiskaly fiscal data (custom systems, third-party POS) | Use SAFE flex — supports any fiscal-relevant document |
| You operate in a country without long-term retention requirements | Optional — but useful for audit preparedness |
SAFE vs SAFE flex
Section titled “SAFE vs SAFE flex”fiskaly offers two variants, depending on how much control you need:
| SAFE | SAFE flex | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Automated archiving of fiskaly data via HUB (coming soon) | Standalone API — upload any document |
| Setup effort | Minimal — enable in HUB, no code required | API integration required (~1-2 weeks) |
| Data source | Connected fiskaly services (SIGN, DSFinV-K) | Any fiscal-relevant document you upload |
| Flexibility | Predefined datasets and export schedules | Full control over what, when, and how you archive |
| Best for | Customers already using SIGN who want automated archival | Custom integrations, non-fiskaly data, mixed systems |
| Pricing | Fixed monthly fee | Based on data volume |
You can use either one or combine both.
If you already use SIGN DE or other SIGN products, SAFE is the easiest path — it auto-links to your existing data without additional API integration.
What gets archived
Section titled “What gets archived”Both SAFE variants ensure that archived data is:
- Stored securely in certified Google Cloud data centers
- Immutable — cannot be modified after archiving
- Searchable and filterable — find specific records by date, type, or metadata
- Exportable — download archives for audits or internal use
Supported formats include JSON, PDF, ZIP, and XML. The service supports all three types of auditor access:
- Z1 — direct access by auditors
- Z2 — indirect access via the taxpayer
- Z3 — machine-readable data export
Country coverage
Section titled “Country coverage”SAFE supports archival requirements for:
Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, and France.
See Compliance and Legal Basis for country-specific retention periods and legal references.
Next steps
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