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Impressum, AGB, Widerrufsbelehrung: the legal texts to have when selling to German consumers

Short answer

Selling to German consumers at a distance needs three kinds of text: seller identity information, the right-of-withdrawal notice, and any standard terms (AGB) you use. Each has statutory rules. DDG § 5 Abs. 1; EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2; BGB § 305 Abs. 1

The key facts at a glance

Impressum
Providers of commercial digital services keep available: name and address, contact incl. email, register and number, VAT ID. DDG § 5 Abs. 1; DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1; DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 2; DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 4; DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 6
Withdrawal period
14 days. BGB § 355 Abs. 2
Start
For goods, from the consumer's receipt; it does not start until the seller has given the required information. BGB § 356 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 Buchst. a; BGB § 356 Abs. 3
Latest end
The right expires 12 months and 14 days after the starting point at the latest. BGB § 356 Abs. 4
AGB
Pre-formulated terms for many contracts; they only become part of the contract if pointed out and reasonably accessible. BGB § 305 Abs. 1; BGB § 305 Abs. 2; BGB § 305 Abs. 2 Nr. 2
Three legal texts and what each covers1Seller information (Impressum)Who sells: name, address, contact,register number2Withdrawal notice(Widerrufsbelehrung)How the 14 days run, how to return,who pays3Standard terms (AGB)Only if used; effective only if shownand readable
Figure 1. Three legal texts and what each covers

What must the Impressum contain?

Providers of commercial digital services must keep the following easily recognisable and directly reachable: DDG § 5 Abs. 1

How the seller information on an Amazon storefront satisfies this was not verified here; on your own website, put an Impressum page that can be opened directly.

What must the withdrawal notice (Widerrufsbelehrung) tell the buyer?

In distance contracts the seller must give the consumer the information set out in Article 246a EGBGB. BGB § 312d Abs. 1

These include identity and address, phone and email, the total price including taxes, and the statutory warranty rights with their two-year minimum. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 2; EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 3; EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 5; EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 11

Where a right of withdrawal exists, the seller must inform about the conditions, periods and procedure, with the model withdrawal form. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2

The seller can meet this duty by sending the statutory model withdrawal notice, correctly filled in, in text form. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 Satz 2

Where applicable the consumer must also be told that the return costs are borne by the consumer. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 Nr. 2

How do the 14 days run?

The withdrawal period is 14 days and no reason is needed. BGB § 355 Abs. 2; BGB § 355 Abs. 1

For goods the period starts when the consumer or a third party named by it (not the carrier) receives the goods; for split deliveries, the last one. BGB § 356 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 Buchst. a

The period does not begin until the seller has given the required information. BGB § 356 Abs. 3

In any case the right expires at the latest 12 months and 14 days after the starting point. BGB § 356 Abs. 4

The seller bears the risk of the return shipment. BGB § 355 Abs. 3

When do AGB bind the buyer?

AGB are terms pre-formulated for many contracts. Terms negotiated individually are not AGB. BGB § 305 Abs. 1

AGB become part of a contract only if, at conclusion, the user points to them expressly, gives the other party a reasonable chance to read them and the other party agrees. BGB § 305 Abs. 2; BGB § 305 Abs. 2 Nr. 2

So AGB tucked into a corner of the listing without confirmation may have no contractual effect. A German lawyer judges individual cases.

What this guide did not verify

Not verified here: how Seller Central displays these texts, the details of the new withdrawal function, and the AGB content-control rules (BGB § 307 onward).

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What sellers also ask

Can I just use templates?

The withdrawal notice has a statutory model, which satisfies the duty if filled in properly. Impressum and AGB must reflect your company's real facts. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 Satz 2

Can I write them in Chinese?

Texts aimed at German consumers should be in German (plus English if you like). The specific language rule was not checked here.

Where does each statement come from?

Every source below is a legal text or an authority page; click through to compare.

  1. BGB § 305 Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-27
  2. BGB § 305 Abs. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  3. BGB § 305 Abs. 2 Nr. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  4. BGB § 312d Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-27
  5. BGB § 355 Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-27
  6. BGB § 355 Abs. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  7. BGB § 355 Abs. 3 · read 2026-10-27
  8. BGB § 356 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 Buchst. a · read 2026-10-27
  9. BGB § 356 Abs. 3 · read 2026-10-27
  10. BGB § 356 Abs. 4 · read 2026-10-27
  11. DDG § 5 Abs. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  12. DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 · read 2026-10-18
  13. DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 · read 2026-10-18
  14. DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 4 · read 2026-10-18
  15. DDG § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 6 · read 2026-10-18
  16. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 11 · read 2026-10-27
  17. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  18. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 · read 2026-10-27
  19. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 5 · read 2026-10-27
  20. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  21. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 Nr. 2 · read 2026-10-27
  22. EGBGB Art. 246a § 1 Abs. 2 Satz 2 · read 2026-10-27

This guide summarises public legal texts and authority pages as general information. It is not legal advice. For your case, ask a licensed German lawyer.

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