Dividend tax in Germany

Hi there!

I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the process of claiming back dividend withholding tax in Germany?

Here’s my situation: I had some dividends that were immediately reinvested—basically, I used the payout to buy more shares—but the tax was still deducted upfront.
Since I’m not a German citizen and don't have any other ties to Germany, am I actually eligible to claim that money back even though I didn't receive the cash in hand? I’m completely in the dark on this topic, so any advice or guidance would be hugely appreciated! 😵

Taylor Ramirez76 said:Hi there!

I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the process of claiming back dividend withholding tax in Germany?

Here’s my situation: I had some dividends that were immediately reinvested—basically, I used the payout to buy more shares—but the tax was still deducted upfront.
Since I’m not a German citizen and don't have any other ties to Germany, am I actually eligible to claim that money back even though I didn't receive the cash in hand? I’m completely in the dark on this topic, so any advice or guidance would be hugely appreciated! 😵

The United States has a tax treaty with Germany to prevent double taxation.
I believe a 15% tax rate should apply, though you ought to verify that detail yourself.
Once confirmed, you can simply download the necessary refund forms online, submit the required documentation, and follow the instructions provided on the web.

It seems the administrative costs might run around $50 to $60, which makes it hardly worth the effort unless the amount is substantial.

A quick Google search should yield everything you need; personally, I decided it wasn't worth the headache...

Arthur Long5 said:The United States has a tax treaty with Germany to prevent double taxation.
I believe a 15% tax rate should apply, though you ought to verify that detail yourself.
Once confirmed, you can simply download the necessary refund forms online, submit the required documentation, and follow the instructions provided on the web.

It seems the administrative costs might run around $50 to $60, which makes it hardly worth the effort unless the amount is substantial.

A quick Google search should yield everything you need; personally, I decided it wasn't worth the headache...

Thanks for the info! I'm honestly not sure if it's worth the effort since my tax amount was only around $200.

Taylor Ramirez76 said:Thanks for the info! I'm honestly not sure if it's worth the effort since my tax amount was only around $200.

It simply isn't worth your while, so let us move on...