Capital gains tax

Investment income earned on private assets is subject to a separate tax rate. As a rule, income tax on investment income from private individuals is settled with the withholding of capital gains tax. In principle, capital income no longer has to be declared in the tax return. In the case of capital income from business assets, the withholding tax is merely an advance payment. This income must still be declared in the tax return.

Income from capital assets is taxed. This includes, for example, investment income from shareholdings in public limited companies, the sale of shares, investment funds, forward transactions and interest. This also includes foreign dividends if a paying agent in Germany credits them to the investor.

Capital gains tax arises at the time when the creditor receives capital gains. Anyone who owes capital gains in Germany must then withhold the tax for the account of the creditor of the capital gains. This also applies to a paying agent in Germany (e.g. a credit institution).

Under certain conditions, the withholding tax can be waived. For example, the paying agent can take into account all or part of the saver's allowance of EUR 1,000 (until 2022: EUR 801) for single persons and EUR 2,000 (until 2022: EUR 1,602) for spouses or life partners who are jointly assessed if an exemption order has been issued.

The submission of a non-assessment certificate entitles the paying agent to credit the investment income without withholding capital gains tax.

Capital gains tax is also withheld for sole proprietorships and partnerships. There are exceptions to the deduction of capital gains tax for certain corporations. More information on this can be obtained from the banks.

Capital gains tax is generally 25% of the investment income plus the solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax. When deducting the tax, the paying agent can, under certain conditions, offset losses and credit foreign taxes that are no longer subject to a reduction.

For private individuals resident in Germany, capital gains tax generally has a final withholding effect (so-called final withholding tax). The tax rate for investment income earned from private assets is generally 25%. If the marginal tax rate of taxpayers is lower than 25%, the investment income can be included in an income tax assessment upon application.

Capital gains tax is not a separate tax but, like wage tax, a special form of income tax.