Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V.
Professional services
UnclaimedGermany's voluntary professional institute and representative body for public auditors and public-audit firms.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V. (IDW) is a privately organized, not-for-profit professional association representing German Wirtschaftsprüfer, the country's public auditors, and Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaften, or public-audit firms. It is headquartered in Düsseldorf and operates independently of the statutory Chamber of Public Auditors, known as the Wirtschaftsprüferkammer. The IDW is not a commercial audit firm and does not itself perform client audits. Its central role is to develop technical guidance, support professional education, represent the interests of the auditing profession, and provide a coordinated voice in German and international debates on accounting, assurance, corporate reporting, taxation, valuation, restructuring, insolvency, and related matters. The modern institute was formed in Berlin on 1 February 1932 through the renaming of the Institut für das Revisions- und Treuhandwesen, an organization established in 1930 by several associations from Germany's audit and fiduciary sectors. Its creation followed the emergence of a formally regulated public-auditor profession after financial and corporate-governance concerns intensified during the late Weimar Republic. The IDW initially sought to unite individual auditors and larger fiduciary organizations, participate in legislative development, and establish common professional positions. It began issuing technical opinions and publishing professional information soon after its formation. During the National Socialist period, the IDW was recognized as the professional representative body for public auditors in 1933, and membership became compulsory in 1934. The organization was later integrated into the Reich Chamber of Economic Trustees in 1943. That chamber was dissolved after the Second World War. The professional institute was re-established in the British occupation zone in 1946, moved to Düsseldorf in 1948, and adopted the name Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V. in 1954. The post-war institute developed publications, training, technical committees, and a publishing operation. Its role changed after the 1961 Wirtschaftsprüferordnung, or Auditors' Act, created the Chamber of Public Auditors to carry out statutory professional-regulatory functions. The IDW consequently became primarily a technical, educational, representative, and standard-setting organization rather than a public regulator. It continued to contribute to European and international professional cooperation, including through involvement in the founding of the European Union of Economic and Financial Accountants, the International Accounting Standards Committee, and the International Federation of Accountants. The IDW's technical output includes auditing standards, quality-control standards, accounting opinions, statements on financial reporting, expert opinions, information papers, and practical aids. Its Main Technical Committee, or HFA, concentrates on assurance, auditing, and quality assurance, while the Technical Committee on Financial Reporting, or FAB, addresses external and internal reporting matters. These bodies coordinate the profession's approach to recurring and emerging issues and provide the principal approval route for broad IDW pronouncements. The institute also comments on legislation, European measures, international standards, and regulatory proposals. In the twenty-first century, the IDW has adapted its work to German accounting modernization, capital-market regulation, European audit reform, international financial reporting, and the incorporation of International Standards on Auditing into German practice as ISA (DE). It maintains regional state groups and offices, professional committees, member education, technical support, and representation in Berlin and Brussels. As of 31 December 2024, the institute reported 12,909 full members: 11,782 individual public auditors and 1,127 public-audit firms. Its membership represented approximately 91 percent of German public auditors at that date. The institute remains an influential professional body, but its pronouncements should be distinguished from legislation and from binding acts of statutory regulators.
History
The institutional roots of German public auditing reach back to the late nineteenth century. Foundation audits for stock corporations were introduced in 1884, and courts increasingly appointed sworn book auditors as accounting experts. Regional legal arrangements in the Hanseatic cities were followed by national provisions permitting the appointment of book auditors. The Deutsche Treuhandgesellschaft was founded in 1890, while the Verband deutscher Bücherrevisoren emerged in 1900 from a merger of Berlin auditor associations. Foreign firms, including Price Waterhouse and Whinney's, also established German offices. By 1929, the Verband deutscher Bücherrevisoren had 853 members. The collapse of Frankfurter Allgemeine Versicherungs AG in 1929 contributed to pressure for stronger corporate-disclosure and audit rules. A presidential ordinance issued on 19 September 1931 addressed stock-company law, bank supervision, tax matters, annual reporting, financial statements, and audits. The public-auditor profession was formally created by an implementing ordinance of 15 December 1931, which required public appointment of auditors and registration of audit firms. In August 1930, several audit and fiduciary associations had created the Institut für das Revisions- und Treuhandwesen in Berlin. It aimed to participate in legislation and reconcile the interests of individual auditors with those of larger fiduciary companies. On 1 February 1932, that institute was renamed the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer. The new organization admitted public auditors and audit firms, issued its first professional opinion in 1933, published the journal Der Wirtschaftsprüfer, and established technical structures that later developed into the Main Technical Committee. In 1933 it was recognized by the Nazi regime as the official professional representative body; in 1934 membership became compulsory and statutory audits for stock corporations were introduced. The organization was absorbed into the Reich Chamber of Economic Trustees in 1943, and that chamber was dissolved in 1945. The institute was rebuilt in 1946 in the British occupation zone with 440 voluntary members. It moved to Düsseldorf in 1948, created its own publishing company in 1950, and adopted its current German name in 1954. It joined European professional cooperation and helped establish or support important international accounting and auditing institutions. The 1961 Auditors' Act created the Chamber of Public Auditors, separating statutory regulation from the IDW's professional, technical, and representative mission. In 1966, the institute began offering preparatory courses for the public-auditor examination. From the 1970s onward, IDW-Verlag became the institute's publishing arm and the IDW expanded its standard-setting work. German auditing and reporting practice was affected by capital-market legislation, auditor-liability reforms, international accounting standards, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the creation of independent oversight arrangements. The institute issued or supported guidance addressing quality assurance, audit reporting, corporate reporting, valuation, restructuring, insolvency, and changes in German commercial law. The Accounting Law Modernization Act of 2009 and the European audit reforms published in 2014 required further adaptation of German practice. Beginning in 2018, the IDW published substantial draft material for ISA (DE), adapting International Standards on Auditing for the German legal and professional environment. Today, the institute works through its general assembly, administrative board, executive board, technical committees, regional groups, and staff in Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Brussels. It represents members nationally and internationally, provides education and technical assistance, comments on legislation and standards, and issues professional pronouncements. Its 2024 membership figures demonstrate its continuing reach among Germany's individual public auditors and audit firms.
- 2018
ISA (DE) draft package published
[1]The institute published twelve initial draft German adaptations of International Standards on Auditing.
- 2014
European audit reform published
[1]The EU regulation and amended Audit Directive on public-interest-entity audits created a major new area for IDW analysis and professional guidance.
- 2009
Accounting Law Modernization Act entered into force
[1]The IDW's technical work adapted to fundamental changes in German commercial accounting law and its alignment with international principles.
- 1995
Quality-assurance guidance strengthened
[1]The IDW and the Chamber of Public Auditors issued a joint statement addressing quality assurance in audit practice.
- 1977
IFAC founded with IDW participation
[1]The IDW participated in the founding of the International Federation of Accountants at the International Congress of Accountants in Munich.
- 1973
International accounting cooperation expanded
[1]The IDW was involved in the founding of the International Accounting Standards Committee.
- 1961
Wirtschaftsprüferordnung enacted
[1]The federal Auditors' Act created the Chamber of Public Auditors and defined the modern division between statutory regulation and professional representation.
- 1954
Current German name adopted
[1]The association became Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer in Deutschland e.V.
- 1948
Headquarters moved to Düsseldorf
[1]The re-established association relocated its headquarters to Düsseldorf.
- 1946
Post-war re-establishment
[1]The institute was re-formed in the British occupation zone with voluntary membership and resumed professional publications.
Products and positioning
A non-commercial German professional institute that combines technical standard-setting, member support, professional education, public-policy representation, and international cooperation for the public-audit profession.
Auditing and assurance guidance
IDW Auditing Standards
Professional pronouncements addressing statutory audits, assurance engagements, audit reporting, audit evidence, and other aspects of German audit practice. They are developed through the institute's technical process and are intended to promote consistent professional application within the German legal environment.
International auditing standards adapted for Germany · 2018
ISA (DE)
German adaptations of International Standards on Auditing. The series incorporates international audit methodology while accounting for German law, professional terminology, and the institutional requirements applicable to audits performed in Germany.
Accounting and financial-reporting guidance
IDW Statements on Financial Reporting
Technical pronouncements on external and internal reporting issues. They help coordinate professional interpretation of German commercial accounting rules, international reporting developments, and complex reporting questions encountered by auditors and reporting entities.
Audit quality management
IDW Quality Control Standards
Guidance for quality assurance and quality management in audit practice. The standards support consistent professional processes and help members address requirements concerning audit-firm systems, engagement quality, documentation, and continuing professional obligations.
Training and continuing professional development · 1966
Professional education and examination preparation
The IDW provides courses for candidates preparing for the public-auditor examination as well as continuing professional development for qualified auditors. Education is part of the institute's broader mission to support competence and consistent practice among members.
Brand decisions
2018
Begin major German adaptation of international auditing standardsStrategyBackground
European and international developments were increasing the importance of globally aligned audit methodology, while German audits continued to operate within a distinct statutory and professional framework.
Action taken
The IDW published an initial package of twelve draft ISA (DE) standards and continued developing additional German adaptations.
Aftermath
The initiative provided a structured route for integrating international auditing standards into German professional practice and became a major part of the institute's modern technical agenda.
1961
Transition to a technical and representative professional roleStrategyBackground
The new Wirtschaftsprüferordnung created the Chamber of Public Auditors as the statutory professional-regulatory institution.
Action taken
The IDW continued focusing on technical guidance, education, member support, professional representation, and policy participation rather than taking over the Chamber's regulatory functions.
Aftermath
The division established the basic institutional structure that still distinguishes the voluntary IDW from Germany's statutory audit regulator and professional chamber.
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