The “AGB für die Lexware Desktop-Lösungen” are the general terms for Lexware software that is installed locally, together with the online products, training, eBooks and the electronic logbook that Haufe Service Center GmbH sells through the Lexware online shop. They say they apply to all services and goods supplied by Haufe Service Center GmbH via the Lexware online shop and the lexware.de sites, listing online products and SaaS, knowledge products, software (as a download or on a data carrier), online training, and eBooks, books and printed material.[1] The terms, dated April 2026, refer users of any version of Lexware Office to the separate Lexware Office terms.[1] This article summarises the desktop terms. They are in German.
Contracting and customers
The offer is directed only at businesses within the meaning of section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB), with three exceptions that consumers may buy: Taxman, FinanzManager and QuickSteuer.[1] Consumers receive supplementary special provisions and a statutory withdrawal right. The contract is formed when Haufe accepts the order, by order confirmation or delivery within three working days; contract formation is in German and the contract text is not stored.[1] Delivery and billing are performed by Haufe Service Center GmbH in its own name for the account of third parties (commission).[1] Customer terms that deviate from the AGB are not accepted unless Haufe agrees in writing.[1]
What is licensed
Usage right
The right of use is non-transferable and non-exclusive and is granted only for the agreed term of the usage contract. It is limited to the use described in the AGB, and is granted under the condition precedent of full payment.[1]
For software the customer may use it as far as the contract allows (number of licences purchased, duration of the right). The software may be installed once per licence and used by one person. Under a network version or multi-licence contract, the customer may let a number of persons use the software equal to the number of licences purchased.[1] The metric is therefore the person, not the installation: a multi-licence for five persons allows five named people to use it whichever machines they use, and the AGB do not describe concurrent-session counting. See Lizenz and Netzwerkversion / Mehrfach-Lizenz.
Own use only
The software may be used for the customer’s own purposes. Using it on behalf of third parties, free or paid, and passing on research or calculation results to third parties is not permitted unless the results are handed over for the third party’s exclusive personal use. Personal use includes use by the third party within its duties as employer. The licence for commercial use of TAXMAN is expressly excepted.[1] A payroll or tax adviser who runs the software for clients should therefore check which product and licence type applies.
Copies, sharing and decompilation
The customer may install the software on a hard disk and make one backup copy from the data carrier or download, which may not be used alongside the original. Other copying, distribution, rental, sublicensing and making the software available to third parties are prohibited, as is passing on access IDs and passwords. The customer may not change, modify, adapt or decompile the software beyond the limits of sections 69d(3) and 69e of the German Copyright Act (UrhG), which permit certain acts by law.[1] Use is allowed only on the hardware platforms and operating systems Haufe supports, and the customer may not change copyright or trademark notices.[1]
Databases and online products
Information and online products are protected as database works and databases. The customer may use them in the scope usual in business and needed for its purposes, within the limits of section 87b UrhG; access from any suitable computer is allowed; one person may use each licence; and the customer may not copy the whole content and make it available to others who are not licensed users (indirect use). Haufe may restrict access if actual use unreasonably impairs its legitimate interests, in particular repeated and systematic reproduction of insubstantial parts. Information products contain a time switch that ends use at the next update.[1]
Subscription and update service
Under section 2.3, software solutions (online products/SaaS and software as a download or on data carriers) are delivered up to date, and the customer takes part automatically in the subscription as described on the product page or in the cart. During the contract term the subscription gives new program versions free of charge (automatic updates and service packs).[1]
The older “Aktualisierungs-Service”, which could be ordered until 2016, delivers the annual software version (with a new year number) as a paid download. The customer is not obliged to accept it if it rejects the new version in text form within 30 calendar days, or cancels the service; in that case the software can only be used to a very limited extent after the usage period ends. It can be cancelled without notice period.[1] For TAXMAN and QuickSteuer a 14-day rejection period applies.[1]
Term and cancellation
A subscription has a minimum contract duration of 12 months and renews automatically by 12 months unless cancelled; cancellation takes effect at the end of the subscription term and may be declared until its last day. After contract end the software can only be used to view data. Under the update service, the software can only be used to view data after the 31 January following contract end, except for FinanzManager, TAXMAN and QuickSteuer.[1] Cancellation must be in text form (letter, email or cancellation bot), and in most cases can be made in the customer account Mein Konto.[1] Haufe may terminate extraordinarily without notice, for example when the customer is in default for two consecutive months with an amount equal to at least two months’ fee, or when the user account is transferred or credentials are shared without consent.[1]
Prices and payment
Online-shop prices for business customers are net prices plus VAT and shipping costs; the customer can choose monthly or annual payment in the cart, and payment falls due on conclusion of the contract.[1] Payment methods are direct debit and invoice, with PayPal and credit card also available for one-off payments or the first invoice; direct debit is collected 14 days after the invoice date.[1] If the monthly instalment is in arrears for at least two consecutive months, Haufe may block access to the software, may demand the whole agreed annual amount from businesses and may hand the claim to a collection agency.[1]
Prices may be changed once per calendar year at Haufe’s reasonable discretion to reflect changes in overall costs, such as development and licence costs. Changes must be announced in text form at least 30 days in advance, and the customer may cancel without notice period and without costs within three months of receiving the notice.[1]
Trial phases
If the order offer states a trial (for example 30 days free), the trial begins on the order date. The invoice is issued with the order and falls due only after the trial. To decline, the customer sends an email titled “Kündigung” to the service address within the trial period and the invoice is cancelled. The trial does not affect statutory withdrawal rights of consumers. It does not apply to TAXMAN, QuickSteuer, Lexware Formulare or the Lexware College training materials.[1]
SaaS part of the desktop AGB
Part II of the desktop AGB sets out the SaaS conditions that also apply to the online products: Haufe offers business-process software as web applications and does not provide them for local installation; the service level is operation Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 with minimum 95% availability as a monthly average; the customer may terminate without notice if availability stays under 95% for three consecutive months or three months in six and Haufe is responsible. Response times are 8 hours (error class 1), 2 working days (class 2) and 3 working days (class 3). Haufe is not obliged to support modified software, third-party software, operating errors, hardware defects, unsupported environments or on-site visits.[1] On contract end the stored data are provided for export and deleted 30 calendar days later.[1]
Training, eBooks and the logbook
Online training from the Lexware Akademie is booked online; free cancellation is possible up to four days before the start. The annual subscription model for online training is bound to a person, includes all training except half-day and full-day courses, and renews by 12 months unless cancelled.[1] eBooks give a personal, non-transferable, simple right of use on devices of the customer’s choice, and may carry watermarks.[1] The Lexware electronic logbook (elektronisches Fahrtenbuch) is resold: Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co. KG is only the reseller and the customer must accept the licence terms of Vimcar GmbH, with a 30-day test phase and a hardware stick to be returned within 14 days after the contract.[1]
Liability and law
Haufe has unlimited liability for intent or gross negligence, injury to life, body or health, product liability law and guarantees; for negligent breach of a duty essential for the contract the liability is limited to typical, foreseeable damage; liability for lost profit is excluded; and the customer must back up data at application-appropriate intervals, with Haufe’s liability for data loss limited to the recovery cost under proper backup. Damage claims, other than those with unlimited liability, become time-barred one year after the customer learns of the damage. German law applies and Freiburg is the place of jurisdiction for merchants.[1] The warranty period against businesses is limited to twelve months.[1]
Practical checks
- Count persons with access to each licence, not installations.
- Check whether any user works on behalf of third parties and, if so, which product allows it.
- Diarise the end of each 12-month term, because renewal is automatic and the software becomes view-only after the term ends.
- Record price-change notices; the customer’s special cancellation right runs for three months.
Out of scope
This article does not cover consumer withdrawal instructions in detail, payment-service terms of Lexware Office, or product-specific prices, which the AGB do not publish. Cloud Lexware Office is in Lexware Office licensing.