Request refund of withheld capital gains tax to foreign residents

If you are a foreign recipient (creditor) of domestic investment income, you may be fully or partially relieved of capital gains tax under certain circumstances.

The Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt) refunds the withheld and remitted capital gains tax that exceeds the withholding tax rate provided for under the treaty on the avoidance of double taxation applicable in the specific country or that is to be refunded under sections 43b or 44a(9) of the German Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz, EStG).

The refund procedure is only applicable to certain domestic investment income that is subject to withholding tax.

The refund of investment income tax may be excluded in the case of certain types of investment income (for example, profit participation rights or receivables from profit participation) or in the case of dysfunctional or insubstantial companies. This regulation is thus directed against tax arrangements through which an attempt is made to achieve relief from capital gains tax by taking advantage of treaty or directive benefits.

You submit your application in writing to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) using the official form.

The documents required for the refund vary depending on the information in your application and the regulations in the double taxation agreement.
In the case of a profit distribution from a listed stock corporation (AG) or Societas Europaea (SE):

• An original tax certificate in the name of the applicant in accordance with model III.

In the case of an open or hidden profit distribution of a non-listed corporation:

• a copy of the shareholders' resolution
• an original confirmation of payment from the tax office responsible for the debtor
• an original tax certificate in the name of the applicant in accordance with model II
• in the case of a first-time application or a change in the shareholding structure, you must submit a copy of the partnership agreement

In the case of a hidden profit distribution:

• a copy (cover sheet, shareholding structure and findings on the hidden profit distribution) of the tax audit report
• a confirmation of payment from the tax office responsible for the debtor

In the case of a profit participation right, typical silent partnership, partiarisches Darlehen, Gewinnobligationen or other rights with profit participation:

• Documents on the basis of entitlement to the capital gains (for example, a copy of the securities prospectus or other contractual agreements)

1. Forms: yes
2. Online procedure possible: no
3. Written form required: yes
4. Personal appearance required: no
   
   

Applications may be submitted by:

• natural persons resident abroad and
• legal entities,

to whom domestic investment income is attributable as a creditor at the time of accrual

§ Section 50c (3) EStG

• Appeal
• action before the finance court
  
  

You must submit the application for refund of capital gains tax in writing to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), Unit St I B3.

• Download the application from the BZSt website or directly from the form server of the Federal Tax Administration. Fill out the application electronically. Print it out and sign it.
• Send the application and all documents by mail to the BZSt office in Bonn.
• Your application will be processed and checked by the BZSt.
• If your application is approved, you will receive a written notice of exemption and refund by mail.
• By obtaining an exemption certificate in advance, you can in certain cases avoid having to deduct tax from the capital gain from the outset or take advantage of a reduced tax rate.

The statutory application period is 4 years after the end of the calendar year in which the capital gains were paid. However, this period does not end before the expiry of 6 months from the date of payment of the tax.

• for processing the application: at least 6 months

none

Notice:
The refund procedure at the BZSt is free of charge. Obtaining the necessary documents (e.g. tax certificate from the custodian bank at the last domestic paying agent) may involve costs for the applicant. The BZSt has no influence on this.