Service Description

This translation is provided for information only. The German version is legally binding: German service description (Leistungsschein).

Purpose

This service description sets out the scope of service of Quellenkontor on each plan: which datasets and access methods are included, how quickly new values are picked up, how we notify customers of changes, what availability we aim for, and how quickly we help with questions. It supplements the Terms of Use and is part of the contract. In case of a conflict between this service description and the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use prevail.

Scope of service

Quellenkontor provides verified HR reference data for Germany, currently 23 datasets across 5 areas: Wages and thresholds, Social security and levies, Tax and travel expenses, Employment law and deadlines, Calendar. These include, among others, the statutory minimum wage, social security contribution rates, social security contribution ceilings, meal and accommodation values, wage garnishment exemptions, public holidays and deadline calculators. The full, continuously maintained list with a short description is at Datasets.

Access methods are the REST API, the SDK for JavaScript and Python, a command-line tool (CLI) and an MCP server, plus the customer account on the website for managing keys, quota and invoices. Which access methods and which quota are included on the booked plan is shown on the pricing page.

Every value carries its effective-from date and, where known, the end of its validity. Queries return the value that applies on a chosen date, including in the past and for already-enacted future changes. The legal basis and the official source of each individual value are at Sources and licenses.

Updating new values

A new or changed value only enters the dataset once it has been officially promulgated; how we check that is described at How we verify. From promulgation onward: On Pro and Enterprise, the value is in the dataset at the latest two business days after promulgation; that is a contractual commitment. On Free and Starter, we enter it as part of our regular, weekly review run, without committing to a fixed deadline; which change is expected next is shown publicly on the status page. Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding statutory public holidays in Hesse (Hessen).

If a value is wrong

If the customer tells us through the contact form that a value doesn't match the official source, we check it against the primary source within one business day, the same on every plan. If the discrepancy is confirmed, we correct the value and document the correction in the changelog.

Notification

On Starter, Pro and Enterprise, we send the customer a short email after every change to the dataset, with a link to the evidence in the changelog. On Pro and Enterprise, a webhook additionally reports every change directly to the customer's software, plus an early warning as soon as a change has been officially announced but not yet promulgated with an amount, for example when a law sets a new threshold for the next year and the figure only follows later by ordinance. On the Free plan, there is no change email and no webhook.

Availability

We operate the service with the care of a prudent provider and aim for 99.5% average monthly availability on every plan. That's a target, not a guaranteed characteristic. Binding availability with credits is agreed only separately, on the Enterprise plan.

Support

The contact form takes questions and error reports. On Starter, we reply within two business days; on Pro and Enterprise, within one business day. Enterprise additionally gets a dedicated contact person. On Free, we answer requests as capacity allows, without committing to a response time.

Maintenance

We announce maintenance work that affects the service in advance where possible, by email or on the status page.

Quotas and buffer

The quota applies per calendar month and depends on the booked plan, see the pricing page. We send an email at 80% of the quota. On Free, the API then responds with status 429 until the first of the month. On Starter, Pro and Enterprise, the customer's application keeps running: there is a 10% buffer above the quota, and only after that does status 429 follow. This never creates extra costs, and nothing is upgraded automatically.

Continuity of the service

If we are no longer able to operate Quellenkontor ourselves, a deputy we have named receives emergency access to operations and data, in order to continue the service or wind it down in an orderly way. We announce a discontinuation of the entire service at least three months in advance; it never takes effect between October 1 and January 31, because of the year end changeover in payroll. If we discontinue the service permanently, we publish the dataset as it stood at that point in time under the license Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Details are in § 5 of the Terms of Use.