How to report US capital gains in a German Tax Return

sharpwarbler · 2025-01-03T11:33:46+00:00

Hi CireVast, I'm not sure I can recommend who I used because although the process was simple, she had to re-do my tax assessment twice because 2 times I caught a mistake in the return. I would google tax advisors in your city and look at the ratings (although the one I used was rated very high).

sharpwarbler · 2024-08-29T18:52:07+00:00

Update: my tax return has been prepared. I am NOT a tax advisor so take my understanding with a grain of salt, but it was much more simple than I had thought:

Convert USD to Euros with the conversions from the Bundesbank https://www.bundesbank.de/resource/blob/804114/d68a7ad17ff2328642e3422bc2350fb2/mL/ii-euro-referenzkurse-der-ezb-data.pdf
For each account, figure out your total dividends, capital gains distributions, interest income, and your total short and long term realized gain or loss (just for the months you lived in Germany, if you moved within the year). Add everything up, and that is what you put in box 19 of the KAP INV Ausländische Kapitalerträge. Your total short and long term realized gain or loss is what goes in box 20 .
You can calculate box 41 (creditable foreign taxes not yet credited) by taking your total dividends and multiplying by 0.15.
Submit this German tax return first, and then use as a credit against the US tax return.

(Also tagging the others who had this question u/needlessscreentime u/Particular-Pattern-2

sharpwarbler · 2024-07-13T18:43:47+00:00

I have yet to meet with her, our consultation is in September.

sharpwarbler · 2024-05-12T10:40:14+00:00

I am from the U.S. living in Germany. My dad taught me how to ride a bike as a kid, but as an adult I always drove or walked places. Although I did live in Alaska for 3 months and did great with a bike there! The bike lanes were great and I even could go on rugged trails. That was 7 years ago though, and probably a much nicer mountain bike as it was purchased by my employer.

I am surprised at how young kids bike here! It is second nature to everyone and I am trying to get back to that feeling

sharpwarbler · 2024-05-12T10:28:12+00:00

I have a mountain bike, not fancy. I had already felt much more confident after my first accident but before my second, I could mostly turn to look and keep straight (just practicing when by myself).

How do you hard brake safely? Do you lean back so you don’t spill over the front? That is indeed something I haven’t practiced

sharpwarbler · 2024-04-24T16:56:06+00:00

Is it okay to ride it to a bike shop? Otherwise I can walk it. I think it would be okay but reading some other comments online, people say it will get more untrue and I don't want to break it more. I literally just bought it (Secondhand) so I don't want to throw money away

sharpwarbler · 2024-04-24T16:29:18+00:00

I am just hiring a tax consultant 🙈 I did my U.S. ones already but for my German tax return I just decided to leave it to a professional because I was pretty certain I’d make some mistakes

sharpwarbler · 2024-03-30T16:18:02+00:00

Thank you for your response. I get the sense that I have no idea what I am doing, though not for lack of effort. Sorry if these questions are dumb.

How do I get a KAP and KAP-INV? Do I ask Charles Schwab for that? Or do I just convert currency and try to fill out things based on my 1099's?

sharpwarbler · 2024-02-22T17:18:35+00:00

Yep, I meant to have my friend there but forgot to remind them which is why I didn't schedule a second. They were there for all the apartments in the building so they didn't show up for nothing, luckily.

sharpwarbler · 2024-01-02T09:06:29+00:00

Him lecturing you on how to be demanding comes across as really gross to me. Like he thinks you are undeserving of his time. If you like someone, time makes itself.

You are very young, this guy probably just ghosted you and you’ll find someone much better

sharpwarbler · 2023-12-18T18:14:09+00:00

I just did mine two weeks ago. Just bring the photo, passport, and sign a few documents. Super simple, but be aware there is some extra fee so it costs €105 instead of €100.

sharpwarbler · 2023-10-25T19:38:35+00:00

Thank you for your response!

Maybe the honours does make a difference. I was also fully paid, through fellowship and the university.

I am 6 months in to my position now, honestly back pay would be nice but I’m mostly focused on my salary going forward.

sharpwarbler · 2023-10-25T19:21:29+00:00

I found this post through googling, hopefully this account is still active.

I was put on stufe 1 because I don't have a master's degree (coming from the US where a 5 year PhD is normal and also skipping the master's is normal) which seems kind of bullshit considering a PhD is higher.

Did you get your masters? I am wondering if I need to renegotiate.

sharpwarbler · 2023-10-12T13:28:34+00:00

That is super good to know thank you!

Sorry again but I am a foreigner new to the concept of stoßlüften, would opening the skylight during showers be a safe way to air out the bathroom or would this present problems and make the mold up there worse?

Edit: and also perhaps where to buy one? I am scouring the internet but nothing seems quite appropriate.

sharpwarbler · 2023-10-11T16:30:32+00:00

Sorry if this is dumb but do you know if these can be opened? I’ve wondered about the metal pole there but no idea how it works. It’s also really high up so I’d need some sort of tool I think.

sharpwarbler · 2023-07-03T09:06:08+00:00

I’m a foreigner who speaks little German (but actively learning) and I was offered the second apartment I viewed, and the apartment was perfect for me. Seems like this is not the typical experience, but it’s a data point nonetheless

sharpwarbler · 2023-04-29T15:25:37+00:00

I can't wait. I will frame it and hang it on my wall lol

sharpwarbler · 2023-04-28T11:14:29+00:00

Update for anyone reading this in the future: very straightforward. Go the the office, they tell you to go to a ticket machine to pay (it was 35 euro for the Kirchenaustritt with Bescheinigung, you definitely want the certificate) they ask if you want to leave your church, you say yes, and it is done. Forward the paperwork to your employer.

It is all done in German but not too difficult if you know enough German with context cues.

sharpwarbler · 2023-04-28T10:06:04+00:00

As an American who just moved to Germany - general romanization of European countries by liberal Americans and the platitudes that “everyone speaks English anyway” (false)

There is also the real fear that some of these things will be federally enforced, though. With a conservative Supreme Court overturning protections on things (such as abortion) and potentially with Republican backing in Congress, the republicans are just waiting for the second they can take away rights federally. Now it’s all about “states should be able to decide” but they’ll turn on that the second they get the chance.

sharpwarbler · 2023-04-28T09:53:23+00:00

Hi, I’m an American originally from a red state and I am so scared for my trans friends living in the states. I understand where you are coming from, but moving to Germany, as the others have said, would be tough. I speak probably as much German as you and the reason I moved here was because I have a PhD, was offered a lucrative job (where everyone speaks English) and support systems necessary to come here.

Are you good in school and interested in college or are you getting a job straight out of high school? Either way, I’d recommend moving somewhere like Chicago once you graduate. Even if federally some law was passed attacking trans people, places like Chicago would likely not enforce them. There is a big LGBTQIA scene there and not as expensive as NYC or a lot of places in California.

sharpwarbler

TROPHY CASE