Berlin-based company LimeTax announced it has secured €36 million in funding. These funds will be used to accelerate the consolidation of the German tax consulting market and implement an artificial intelligence platform across all partner firms.
The startup has already expanded to four firms in seven locations and employs around 150 people, achieving double-digit millions in annual revenue. LimeTax's business model involves acquiring profitable local tax firms and integrating AI into them while allowing them to retain their brand and client base.
The AI platform integrates directly into the daily work of accountants on top of the DATEV software, which is used by 90% of German accountants. LimeTax operates in an agency mode, meaning the system does not just answer questions. It coordinates AI agents in areas such as bookkeeping, payroll calculation, and financial reporting.
For example, a task that previously required 20 hours of manual bookkeeping per month now takes only 6 hours thanks to AI handling data collection and entry, after which the human accountant performs verification and provides recommendations to the client. Founder Christoph Gamon believes that the future of accounting and tax consulting will be shaped not by adding another AI tool, but by a comprehensive overhaul of consulting services and technologies from scratch.
Professional responsibility remains with the firm's permanent consultants; AI merely automates routine processes. The German tax service market has long resisted consolidation due to the small size and local nature of the firms. Instead of forcing mergers into a single brand, LimeTax offers a partnership that preserves the independence of the firms while giving them shared access to technology, back-office support, and now AI.
The funding is distributed as follows: a credit line of €30 million is specifically designated for acquiring new firms, and €6 million in equity capital will go towards further developing the agency platform. The founding team has experience in similar projects, having previously created a unicorn-valued holding, conducted over 100 M&A deals, and scaled up to 500 employees.
Investor Michael Hock from Motive Partners noted that in accounting and taxation, the limitation is not demand but capacity, and LimeTax is creating technology where the actual work happens. This approach aligns with a broader trend in Europe: instead of AI startups trying to replace specialists, they collaborate with them. The tax and accounting sector is ideally suited for this partnership, although other companies like Visma are also acquiring AI tools for accounting in Germany, and Finom launched 'Accountant with AI' for freelancers. Nevertheless, LimeTax is the first company to combine firm acquisition and AI development within one group.