Can I credit German Abgeltungsteuer against my US tax?

Yes. The 26.375% Abgeltungsteuer (including Soli) flows into Form 1116 as creditable foreign tax under the Germany-US Convention (1989). We keep the detail wrapper by wrapper, the way an IRS examiner expects to see it.

How are Riester and Rürup pensions treated?

Article 18 (pensions) governs the treaty position. We attach Form 8833 when contributions exceed the default credit thresholds; otherwise the standard Foreign Tax Credit applies and the account is reported on Form 8938 / FBAR.

Why does my German capital-gain timing differ from the US?

German realization can lag the US wash-sale window, so the same trade can fall in different tax years on each side. We surface those conflicts against your Steuerbescheid before you file.

Convention 1989 · IRS × BZSt

You already pay Abgeltungsteuer at home.
We build your 1040 on top of that — no double taxation.

Germany-US Convention 1989 covers Abgeltungsteuer, Soli, Kirchensteuer and pension income. Capital-gain timing differences are reconciled against your German Steuerbescheid.

Start a Germany return See pricing

No payment until you finalise · Free PFIC scan · Draft package mapped to Forms 8621 / 8938 / FBAR / 1116 / 8833

What we handle for Germany residents

The three things that bite Germany-based US citizens.

Riester & Rürup

Article 18 (pensions) treaty position attached via Form 8833 when contributions exceed default credit thresholds.

Abgeltungsteuer credit

26.375% (incl. Soli) flows into Form 1116 as creditable foreign tax — we keep the wrapper-by-wrapper detail your IRS examiner expects.

Kapitalerträge timing

Realization on the German side may lag the US wash-sale window — we surface conflicts before you file.

Other treaty desks

Same workflow, different bilateral convention.

FranceConvention 1994 United KingdomConvention 2001 CanadaConvention 1980 AustraliaConvention 1982

Germany treaty · FAQ

What US citizens in Germany ask us most.

Can I credit German Abgeltungsteuer against my US tax?: Yes. The 26.375% Abgeltungsteuer (including Soli) flows into Form 1116 as creditable foreign tax under the Germany-US Convention (1989). We keep the detail wrapper by wrapper, the way an IRS examiner expects to see it.
How are Riester and Rürup pensions treated?: Article 18 (pensions) governs the treaty position. We attach Form 8833 when contributions exceed the default credit thresholds; otherwise the standard Foreign Tax Credit applies and the account is reported on Form 8938 / FBAR.
Why does my German capital-gain timing differ from the US?: German realization can lag the US wash-sale window, so the same trade can fall in different tax years on each side. We surface those conflicts against your Steuerbescheid before you file.

Atamatax · run your Germany return

Free draft. Pay only when you finalise.

Scan your brokerage, see your PFIC count, review the forms with the right Germany treaty positions attached. You only pay when (and if) you finalise the return — and you walk away with a draft PDF package mapped to every IRS form.

Start my draft See pricing

What you walk out with

· Form 1040 + schedules B, D, 1, 2, 3
· One Form 8621 per PFIC (up to 25 per return)
· Form 8938 (FATCA) when thresholds hit
· FinCEN 114 (FBAR) threshold check and separate-filing guidance
· Form 1116 with Germany tax credit allocated
· Form 8833 when you take a treaty position