Apply for (partial) exemption from German capital gains tax for foreign corporations

You must submit the application for exemption in writing to the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), Unit St I B 3.

• Download the application from the BZSt website. Fill out the application electronically. Print it out and sign it.
• The tax authority of the foreign country must confirm residency.
• Then send the application and all documents by mail to the BZSt office in Bonn.
• Your application will be processed and checked by the BZSt.
• You will receive an exemption certificate or a notice of rejection of your application by mail.
• In the event that an exemption certificate is issued, the distributing corporation (debtor) may omit the tax deduction in whole or in part from the outset if the exemption certificate is available.
  
  

Applications may be submitted by:

• legal entities resident abroad
  • who are subject to taxes on income or profits in their country of residence without being exempt from such taxes, and
  • who receive investment income from domestic corporations subject to unlimited taxation in which they hold a direct interest of at least 10 percent

When submitting the application, you must submit:

• appropriate power of attorney in the event that the application is submitted through an authorized representative
• Proof of the amount of direct participation in the nominal capital of the affiliated company, for example:
• Contracts on the acquisition of shares or notarized current list of shareholders
• Proof of the justification of the capital income, for example:
  • Profit participation rights agreement
  • Loan agreement

none

Application: The validity of the exemption certificate begins at the earliest on the day on which the application is received by the Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt).

Validity of the exemption certificate: at least 1 to a maximum of 3 years, after which a new application must be submitted

• for processing the application: 3 months after complete submission of all required evidence

§ Section 50c (2) EStG

• § 50d Absatz 2 Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG)

• Appeal
• Tax court action
  
  

• Forms: yes
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: no
  
  

• Antrag auf Freistellung auf der Internetseite des Bundeszentralamtes für Steuern
• Antrag auf Freistellung in Verbindung mit dem deutsch-schweizerischen Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen vom 11.08.1971 auf der Internetseite des Bundeszentralsamtes für Steuern
• Antrag auf (Teil-)Freistellung in Verbindung mit dem Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen zwischen Deutschland und Taipeh auf der Internetseite des Bundeszentralsamtes für Steuern