Tax rates in Germany

Company Tax

Standard rate is 15% (15.825% including a 5.5% solidarity surcharge). Effective rate including trade tax (assessed independently by each municipality from 7% to 17%) is estimated at about 30-33%

Tax Rate For Foreign Companies

There is no distinction between German companies and foreign companies. Non-resident companies are only taxed on their Germany-sourced income, while resident companies are taxed on their worldwide income.
Both corporation tax and trade tax are imposed on the taxable income of a foreign company's German branch.

Capital Gains Taxation

Capital gains are typically taxed at the same rate as ordinary income at 15% (or 15.825% with the solidarity surcharge). A 95% tax exemption (a 100% exemption with a 5% add-back as a non-deductible business expense) applies to the sale of shares by a company, regardless of how long the participation in the subsidiary has been held. Such an exemption does not apply to banks, financial institutions and finance companies, life or health insurance companies and pension funds.

Main Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

In general, all expenses incurred in the course of business operations are deductible. Germany offers unilateral tax relief, allowing companies to credit foreign taxes paid up to the amount that is subject to domestic tax or to deduct foreign tax as a business expense. Net operating losses up to EUR 1 million can be carried back one year for corporation tax (for losses incurred between 2020-2023 the limit has been increased to EUR 10 million, in response to the COVID-19 crisis), but this provision does not apply to trade tax. Losses can be carried forward indefinitely and deducted up to a total income of EUR 1 million without limitation. For losses exceeding this amount, the excess can be deducted up to 60% of the total income. However, from 2024 to 2027, this limit is temporarily increased, allowing excess losses to be deducted up to 70% of the total income. Deduction of net interest expense is generally limited to 30% tax EBITDA.

Start-up and formation expenses are deductible. Bad debts incurred on business activity with unrelated parties are deductible if it is apparent that they are irrecoverable and all attempts to pursue the debt have failed or been abandoned.

Donations to charity organizations that respect certain parameters, whether in cash or in kind, are deductible up to the higher of 20% of otherwise net taxable income or 0.4% of the total of sales revenue and wages and salaries paid during the year.

Paid taxes are deductible, except for corporation tax, trade tax, and the VAT on most non-deductible expenses. Fines and penalties are not deductible. The deductibility of certain royalty payments to related parties has limitations. Payments to foreign affiliates can be deducted, provided the amounts are at "arm’s length".

According to the German Research Allowance Act (Forschungszulagengesetz), a tax-free subsidy of 25% of salaries and wages for certain R&D purposes shall be guaranteed up to a limit of EUR 1 million/year (until 30 June 2026). Furthermore, the maximum assessment basis for eligible expenses incurred after March 27, 2024, has been increased to EUR 10,000,000. This results in a maximum R&D allowance of EUR 2,500,000 per year, or EUR 3,500,000 for certain small and medium-sized enterprises.

The straight-line method is used to calculate depreciation for both movable and fixed assets, based on the asset's estimated useful life. A depreciation table (AfA-Tabelle) established by the Federal Ministry of Finance provides the specific depreciation period for each asset. Assets with a net value below EUR 800 can be fully depreciated right away. For movable assets acquired or produced between 2020 and 2022, a temporary accelerated depreciation method utilizing the declining balance approach has been introduced. The depreciation factor applicable under this method can reach up to 2.5 times the current depreciation rates but is limited to 25% annually. Furthermore, under the recent legislative changes in the Growth Opportunities Act of March 27, 2024, movable fixed assets acquired or manufactured between March 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, may use the declining balance method for depreciation. This method allows for a depreciation rate of up to 20% per annum, with a maximum rate of twice the straight-line depreciation rate.

Other Corporate Taxes

Municipal trade tax, an income tax levied by municipalities, has a minimum rate of 7%. It applies to all businesses with commercial activities through a subsidiary or nonresident's permanent establishment in Germany. Corporations are considered to conduct commercial enterprises regardless of their activities. The average tax rate varies between 14% and 17% of income and is based on taxable income as calculated for corporate income tax, with several adjustments.
A real property tax is levied by the municipality where the property is located, the rate includes a fixed rate based on property use and a variable municipal rate. The tax is based on the property's tax value, determined by specific valuation principles.
A real estate transfer tax applies with rates varying between 3.5-6.5%, including on indirect transfers from the acquisition of at least 90% of the shares in property-owning companies.

Employers are liable for social security contributions, as follows:

- Pension insurance: 9.3%
- Unemployment insurance: 1.23%
- Health insurance: 7.3% (the health funds may levy a supplement of 1.7% on average)
- Invalidity insurance: 1.525% (with a surcharge of 0.35% for employees without children)
- Statutory nursing care insurance: 1.7%

In 2024, pension and unemployment contributions are capped at monthly salary limits of EUR 7,550 in Western Germany and EUR 7,450 in Eastern Germany. Health and invalidity insurance contributions are capped at EUR 5,175 per month across both regions.
The insolvency contribution, payable solely by the employer, is set at 0.09% of income, capped at EUR 84,600 annually (EUR 81,000 in the new federal states).

Other Domestic Resources

Federal Central Tax Office

Tax Rate

Allowable Deductions and Tax Credits

Statutory pension contributions (under certain limits), certain private insurance contributions, education (30% of tuition fees, excluding housing, care, and food; capped at EUR 5,000 per year/child) and training expenses, alimony (capped at EUR 13,805), donations (up to 20% of adjusted gross income), and church tax are deductible. Additionally, resident taxpayers are granted personal allowances, as follows:
Employee's allowance EUR 1,230; Investor's allowance (for interest, dividends, and capital gains) EUR 1,000; Lump-sum special expense deduction EUR 36; Child allowance (per child registered in Germany and per parent) EUR 4,656.
The monthly exemption limit for non-cash benefits (i.e. job tickets, merchandise, gas vouchers, etc.) is EUR 50. If the value of these benefits exceeds the exemption limit, the entire amount is subject to tax.

Actual expenses for child care can be deducted up to a maximum of EUR 4,000 per year/child (for children under 14 years or for handicapped children).

Deductions are provided for parents and children with low income (documentary evidence of low income is required), up to EUR 9,984; and for children older than 18 who are being educated in Germany or certain foreign countries, up to EUR 924 per year. A lump-sum deduction of EUR 36 for a single person or EUR 72 for married couples is provided without the need for proof.
Employees working from home who don’t have a separate office room in their home can claim a flat rate of EUR 6 per day spent working from home and entrepreneurs can claim this lump sum as a business expense (capped at EUR 1,260/year).

Losses not offset in the year in which they occur can either be carried back to the previous year up to EUR 1,000,000 (increased to EUR 10,000,000 for 2020-2025) or carried forward indefinitely. In the latter scenario, a full offset of EUR 1 million per year is allowed, while any loss carryforward beyond EUR 1 million can only be utilized within specific yearly thresholds. For married taxpayers filing jointly, these amounts are doubled.

Special Expatriate Tax Regime

Income tax is payable by German resident individuals on their worldwide income. Non-resident individuals are only required to pay taxes on German-sourced income.
There is no specific tax regime for expatriates in Germany. However, the country has signed double taxation agreements with many countries in the world. For more information refer to the Ministry of Finance.