Taxation in Germany

Taxes in Germany are levied by the federal government, the states ("Länder") as well as the municipalities ("Städte/Gemeinden"). Many direct and indirect taxes exist in Germany; income tax and VAT are the most significant.
The legal basis for taxation is established in the German Constitution (), which lays out the basic principles governing tax law. Most taxation is decided by the federal government and the states together, some are allocated solely at the federal level (e.g., customs), some are allocated to the states (excise taxes), and districts and municipalities may enact their own tax laws. Notwithstanding the division of tax law jurisdiction, in practice, 95% of all taxes are imposed at the federal level.
At the federal level, the government receives tax revenues from residents in the form of individual income tax, property sales taxes, and capital gains. The amount of federal tax liability may be reduced by various deductions, and mitigated by various allowances for children. Some non-residents are liable in Germany if they have certain types of income there. Generally, public and private corporations are liable for taxes in Germany, with certain exemptions such as charitable foundations and religious institutions. Products and services generated in Germany are subject to value-added tax (VAT) under EU rules, with certain exemptions. Other types of tax revenue include real property transfers, inheritance and gift taxes, capital gains, aviation, and motor vehicle taxes.
Terminology and concepts.
The German word for tax is "Steuer" which originates from the Old High German noun "stiura" meaning "support".
The "Grundgesetz" (lit. "Basic Law") is the common term for the German Constitution in German, known in full as the , or "Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany".
General legal or administrative jurisdictions in Germany fall roughly into four levels: federal (), state ("Land", plural "Länder"), district ("Kreis", plural "Kreise"), and municipality ("Gemeinde", plural "Gemeinden"), and tax authority follows this same pattern, although it is concentrated chiefly at the federal and state level.
The fiscal administration ("Finanzverwaltung"), also known as tax administration: ) in Germany is the part of public administration which is responsible for the determination and collection of taxes. The Federal Central Tax Office ("Bundeszentralamt für Steuern", or BZSt) is the federal agency responsible for administering certain sections of the country's tax code. It was spun off from the Federal Ministry of Finance in 2006.
Taxation principles.
The German Constitution lays down the principles governing taxation in the following articles:
The right to decide on taxes is subdivided:
So even if Germany is a federal state, 95% of all taxes are imposed on a federal level. The income of these taxes is allocated by the federation and the states as following (Constitution, ):
Most of the revenue is earned by income tax and VAT. The revenues of these taxes are distributed between the federation and the states by quota. The municipalities receive a part of the income of the states. In addition, there is a compensation between rich and poor states (Constitution, ).
Structure & basic information.
Administration.
Germany's fiscal administration is divided into federal tax authorities and state tax authorities. The local tax offices ("Finanzamt", plural "Finanzämter") belong to the latter. They administer the "shared taxes" for the Federation and the States and process the tax returns. The number of tax offices in Germany totals around 650.
As a result of discussions in 2006 and 2009 between Federation and States (the so-called ""), the Federation also administers some taxes. The competent authority is the Federal Central Tax Office (, or "BZSt") which is also competent authority for certain applications of tax refund from abroad. Since 2009, the BZSt allocates an identification number for tax purposes to every taxable person.
Jurisdiction.
There is normally at least one finance court in every state (Berlin and Brandenburg share a court, in Cottbus). Appeal instance is the Federal Finance Court of Germany ("Bundesfinanzhof") in Munich.
Fiscal code.
The common rules and procedures applying to all taxes are contained in the fiscal code ("Abgabenordnung") as so-called general tax law. The individual tax laws regulate in which case tax is incurred.
Tax identification numbers.
From 2009 onward, every German resident receives a personal tax identification number. In the coming years, businesses will be receiving a business identification number. The competent authority is the "Federal Central Tax Office" ("Bundeszentralamt für Steuern").
Tax revenue.
In 2014, German tax revenue totaled €593 billion.
Tax revenue is distributed to Germany's three levels of government: the federation, the states, and the municipalities. All of these are jointly entitled to the most important types of tax (i.e., value-added tax and income tax). For this reason, these taxes are also known as "shared taxes". Tax revenue is distributed proportionately using a formula prescribed in the German Constitution.
Taxes on income.
Income tax for residents.
Individuals who are residents in Germany or have their normal place of abode there have full income tax liability. All the income earned by these persons both at home and abroad is subject to German tax (principle of world income).
Types of income.
For the purposes of charging income tax in Germany, earnings are divided into seven different types of income. A distinction is made between:
If a taxpayer's income does not fall into any of these categories, then it is not subject to income tax. This includes winnings at a lottery, for example.
Income tax.
The rate of income tax in Germany ranges from 0% to 45%. The German income tax is a progressive tax, which means that the average tax rate (i.e., the ratio of tax and taxable income) increases monotonically with increasing taxable income. Moreover, the German taxation system warrants that an increase in taxable income never results in a decrease of the net income after taxation. The latter property is due to the fact that the marginal tax rate (i.e., the tax paid on one euro additional taxable income) is always below 100%. The marginal tax rates and the resulting average tax rate of the income tax are depicted in the graph to the right. The tax liability of married couples who file jointly is assessed on half their total income, and the result from applying the tax tariff is multiplied by two afterwards. Due to the progressive tax schedule, this always more favorable than taxing each spouse separately. This splitting advantage increases with the income difference between both spouses.
One additional fact about the income tax system in Germany is that it is assessed on the net income of an individual or married couple, which includes a deduction for the social security contributions they pay. In 2019, this averages somewhere around 19.7% of personal income. So, in reality, the marginal tax rates displayed below only apply to +/- 80.3% of the income of an individual up to 55,960 euros. This in turn decreases the income tax liability for the average employee by around 4%, although it still is possible to pay an effective rate of nearly 45% if your income is high enough. Finally, there is a tax refund that averages around 1000 euros.
Solidarity surcharge.
On top of income tax, the so-called solidarity surcharge ("Solidaritätszuschlag" or "Soli") is levied at a rate of 5.5% of the income tax for higher incomes. The solidarity surcharge was introduced in 1991 and, since 1995, has been justified with the additional costs of the German reunification. These include the debts and pension obligations of the East German government, as well as the costs of upgrading infrastructure and environmental remediation in the new states of Germany. Since 2021 the solidarity surchage has been scaled back considerably. From January 2021 onwards, up to €16,956 (€33,912 for married couples) annual income tax, no solidarity surcharge is levied (previously: €972/€1,944). This means up to a yearly income of €62,127 (€124,255 for married couples) no surchage is levied.
Above this threshold, the solidarity surcharge rate averages at 5.5%.
For example, if €10,000 income tax result from a certain annual taxable income, a solidarity surcharge of €550 will be levied on top. As a result, the tax payer owes the taxation office €10,550.
Tax on benefits in kind.
Every individual has to pay for any perks or benefits they receive from an employer, which includes, for example, the use of a car. This applies to private car usage too if the car is owned by a company or a self-employed individual. In the case of cars, this is based on either a log-book method or a flat-rate method, which depends on the gross-list-price of a car rounded down to the next 100 EUR. This means the original list-price without any reduction or discount at the time of first original use, whether or not the car is used or some years old. VAT and every extra features (e.g. GPS, leather seats etc.) need to be included. Tax is paid on one per cent of this basis as the taxable amount every month.
Example:
Gross-list-price: 45,000 EUR
Additional taxable income: 450 EUR each month
Withholding taxes.
Tax on income from employed work and tax on capital income are both retained by being deducted at source (pay-as-you-earn tax, wages tax, or withholding tax). Here, an amount of tax is retained directly by the employer or by the bank before the earnings are paid out.
The taxation at source for employment income will be carried out based in taxation classes based on the personal status. The tax classes essentially differ by the exemption threshold that is applied. Married couples face a decision of opting for a combination of classes III/V or IV/IV. In the former case, the spouse with higher earnings receives the twice the basic exemption rate, while the second earner is taxed at very low earnings. In the latter case, both spouses are taxed based on the standard exemption rate. The choice of tax classes only matters for the withholding tax and hence for the income that is immediately at disposal. After the income tax assessment, which happens a few months after the tax year has ended, the tax rebate is not affected by the choice of tax class. Beyond, employers are also liable to deduct the contributions to the social security system at source.
Taxation classes (tax groups, Lohnsteuerklasse aka Steuerklassen)
The taxation at source for capital income will be done with a flat tax rate of 25% (add solidarity surcharge of 5.5% of the amount of tax and, if applicable, church tax).
Deductions.
German income tax law allows a considerable number of taxpayer's costs to be deducted from income when computing taxable income. This applies in particular to costs immediately related to earnings. Apart from this, other costs are also deductible, e.g., certain insurance payments, costs incurred by sickness, costs for home help, and maintenance payments. In addition to the possibility of deducting costs, there are also numerous allowances and lump-sum amounts which reduce taxable income, e.g., an allowance for capital earnings currently at €801 (€1,602 for married couples) and a lump sum of €1000 (earnings in 2011 or onwards) is deducted from income from employed work. Expenditure on child support and on children's vocational training is taken into account with a special tax allowance, with allowances for costs expended on child supervision, education and training, and with child benefit payments.
Tax return.
The obligation to file an income tax return does not apply to everybody. For example, single assessed tax payers who exclusively earn income subject to withholding tax are exempt from this obligation, because their tax debt is deemed to be at least settled by the withholding tax. Nevertheless, any person having full tax liability is allowed to file a tax return, taking into account the tax already withheld at the source and possible deductions. In many cases, this may result in a tax refund.
Married couples can apply for joint assessment to be taxed at a more favourable rate. In this case, they must file the annual tax return as it is possible that the tax paid through withholding tax was not sufficient.
Income tax for non-residents.
Individuals who are neither resident of Germany nor have their normal place of abode there are only liable to pay tax in Germany if they earn income there which has a close domestic (German) context. This includes in particular income from real estate in Germany or from a permanent establishment in Germany.
Double taxation agreements.
Germany has reached tax treaties with about 90 countries to avoid double taxation. These agreements fall under public international law and aim to avoid that one taxpayer is charged similar taxes more than once on the same income for the same period. The basic structure of the double taxation agreements which Germany has signed follows the "Model Tax Convention" drawn up by the OECD.
Social Security Contributions.
Employment income earned in Germany is subject to different insurance contributions covering health, pension, nursing and unemployment insurance. Contributions are levied as a percent of income until a certain ceiling shared equally between employee and employer. Table of contributions for 2018:
see also Payroll tax / section Germany
Taxes on corporation & capital income.
Corporation tax.
 Corporation tax is charged first and foremost on corporate enterprises, in particular public and private limited companies, as well as other corporations such as e.g. cooperatives, associations and foundations. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are not subject to corporation tax: profits earned by these set-ups are attributed to their individual partners and then taxed in the context of their personal income tax bills.
Corporations domiciled or managed in Germany are deemed to have full corporation tax liability. This means that their domestic and foreign earnings are all taxable in Germany. Some corporate enterprises are exempted from corporation tax, e.g. charitable foundations, Church institutions, and sports clubs.
As of 1 January 2008, Germany's corporation tax rate is 15%. Counting both the solidarity surcharge (5.5% of corporation tax) and trade tax (averaging 14% as of 2008), tax on corporations in Germany is just below 30%.
Assessment base.
The assessment base for the corporation tax charged is the revenue which the corporate enterprise has earned during the calendar year. Taxable profits are determined using the result posted in the annual accounts (balance sheet and Income statement) drawn up under the Commercial Code. What is deemed income under tax law sometimes diverges from the way earnings are determined under commercial law, in which case tax law provisions prevail.
Dividends.
When dividends are paid to an individual person, capital yield tax at a rate of 25% is charged. Since 1 January 2009, this tax is final for individuals who are residents of Germany. Solidarity surcharge is also imposed on capital yields tax.
When dividends are paid to an enterprise with full corporation tax liability, the recipient business is largely exempted from paying tax on these revenues. In its tax assessment, merely 5% of the dividends are added to profits as non-deductible operating expenses. The same applies if a taxable corporate enterprise sells shares in another company.
Deducting tax from dividends paid by a subsidiary with full tax liability to a foreign parent domiciled in the EU is waived on certain conditions, e.g., the parent company has to have a direct holding in the subsidiary of at least 15%.
Integrated fiscal units (group taxation).
Under German tax law, separate companies may be treated as integrated fiscal units for tax purposes (Organschaft). In an integrated fiscal unit, a legally independent company (the controlled company) agrees under a profit and loss pooling agreement to become dependent on another business (the controlling company) in financial, economic and organisational terms. The controlled company undertakes to pay over its entire profits to the controlling company. Another requirement is that the controlling company has to hold the majority of voting rights in the controlled company.
In tax terms, recognition of a fiscal unit means that the income of the controlled company is allocated to the controlling company. This provides an opportunity to balance profits and losses within the integrated fiscal unit.
Trade tax.
Entrepreneurs engaging in business operations are subject to trade tax ("Gewerbesteuer") as well as income tax/corporation tax. In contrast to the latter, trade tax is charged by the local authorities or municipalities, who are entitled to the entire amount. The rate levied is fixed by each local authority separately within the range of rates prescribed by the central government. As from 1 January 2008, the rate averages 14% of profits subject to trade tax.
Assessment procedure.
The business entity has to file the trade tax return with the tax office, like its other tax returns. Taking any allowances into account, the local tax office ("Finanzamt") calculates the trade earnings and then gives the applicable figure for a trade tax assessment to the local authority collecting the tax. The underlying profit base, as well as the book-tax differences for the local trade tax jurisdictions, may differ from that used for the corporation tax. On the basis of the collecting rate ("Hebesatz") in force in its area, the local authority calculates the trade tax payable.
Unincorporated enterprises.
One-man businesses and members of a partnership may deduct a large portion of trade tax from their personal income tax bill.
Incorporated enterprises.
As from 1 January 2008, corporate entities may no longer deduct trade tax from their taxable profits.
Real property tax.
Municipalities levy a tax on real property ("Grundsteuern"). The tax rates vary because they depend on the decision of the local parliament. The tax is payable every quarter. In 2018, the German Constitutional Court ruled the current property tax as not in line with the constitution. This is because properties are taxed based on their value from the early 1960s (1930s in East Germany), violating the horizontal equity principle.
Real property transfer tax.
Transfers of real property are taxable ("Grunderwerbsteuer"). The vendee and the vendor are common debtors of the tax. In general the vendee has to pay the tax. The tax rate is defined by the individual States. In general the tax rate is 3.5%, but all States except Bavaria and Saxony have increased it since 2011. Most States now have a taxrate of 4.5% or 5%, the highest are North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein with 6.5%.
Real estate investors are also impacted by the speculation tax ("Spekulationssteuer"). This tax applies to gains generated on real estate investments, if sold less than 10 years after purchase. Depreciation deductions of prior years are added to the sales price of the home, to derive a higher taxable gain.
Vendor profit from real estate sales in Germany is considered capital gains, if the real estate has been held for less than 10 years.
Inheritance and gift tax.
A single law regulates both inheritance tax and gift tax, requiring the payment of rates from 7% to 50% both on transfers following death and on gifts among the living. In contrast to the U.S. Estate Tax, the inheritance and gift tax is paid by the recipient of the transfer. The tax rates depend on the amount and on the relationship between donor and recipient. There are also substantial exemption rates, amounting to €500,000 for transfers between married partners and €400,000 for transfers to own (step-)children. Deductions as high as 100% apply to cases such as family houses and the possessions of entrepreneurs.
Capital gains tax.
In Germany there is no special capital gains tax. Only under certain conditions gains from private disposal may be taxed. Since 2009-01-01 Germany levies a final tax (Abgeltungsteuer) amounting to 25% plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge. This may take effect like a capital gains tax for resident persons e.g. disposal of shares. The "Abgeltungsteuer" replaces the earlier that had been in effect in Germany since 2001.
Consumption Taxes.
Value-added tax.
As a matter of principle, all services and products generated in Germany by a business entity are subject to value-added tax (VAT). The German VAT is part of the European Union value added tax system.
Exemptions.
Certain goods and services are exempted from value-added tax by law; this applies for German and foreign businesses alike.
For example, the following are exempted from German value-added tax:
Tax rate.
The rate of value-added tax rate generally in force in Germany is 19%. A reduced tax rate of 7% applies e.g. on sales of certain foods, books and magazines and transports. Due to COVID-19 reason, the government accepted a lowering from 1st July 2020 until 31st December 2020 for the rates. Thus the standard rate is currently lowered to 16% and the reduced rate to 5%.
Payment of the tax.
Within 10 days of the end of each calendar quarter, the business entity has to send the tax office an advance return in which it has to give its own computation of the tax for the preceding calendar quarter. The amount payable is the value-added tax it has invoiced, minus any amounts of deductible input tax. Deductible input tax is the value-added tax which the entrepreneur has been charged by other business entities.
The amount thus calculated has to be paid to the tax office by way of an advance. By this is meant that the amount due must be paid in full before the next fiscal quarter. Larger businesses have to file the advance return every month. For entrepreneurs who have only just taken up professional or commercial operations, the monthly reporting period likewise applies during the first calendar year and in the year after that.
At the end of the calendar year, the entrepreneur has to file an annual tax return in which it has again calculated the tax.
Small businesses.
Entrepreneurs whose turnover (plus the value-added tax on it) has not exceeded EUR 17,500 in the preceding calendar year and is not expected to exceed EUR 50,000 in the current year (small enterprises), do not need to pay value-added tax. However, these small enterprises are not allowed to deduct the input tax they have been billed.
Aviation tax.
Starting 1 January 2011, all passenger flights departing from Germany will be subject to the aviation tax. The amount of tax to be paid depends on the distance to the final destination. Flights to a destination up to 2,500 km away will incur a tax of €8 per passenger. The amount increases to €25 for distances of up to 6,000 km and €45 for distances beyond this. The distance taken into account is that for the entire journey as booked. For flights involving a transfer or short stopover, this means that the tax only becomes chargeable on the initial departure.
Motor vehicle tax.
A tax is imposed on the owners of motor vehicles. It is levied depending on the type of vehicle (car, motorcycle, commercial truck, trailer, motorhome, etc.). The tax is due annually after the registration of the vehicle.
With cars, the tax is different for gasoline and diesel engines. Diesel powered cars are taxed higher. The tax amount also depends on the emissions class (Euro 1 – Euro 6), whether a diesel car has a soot particle filter, and the initial date of vehicle registration.
Purely electric vehicles are exempt from taxes for at least five years after initial registration.
Financial crisis 2009.
Existing depreciations e.g. for certain private housekeeping expenses and for small and medium-sized enterprises have been enhanced. A declining depreciation for movable assets has been reintroduced for two years (2009–2010). Businesses are allowed to carry back losses and to claim refund of paid corporation / income tax. As a result, they get liquidity improvement. From 2010-01-01 on the VAT tax rate concerning hotel accommodation is reduced from 19% to 7%.