Payment of the flat income tax will generally satisfy any income tax liability (including the solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax) of the holder of the securities with respect to such investment income. Holders of the securities may apply for a tax assessment on the basis of general rules applicable to them if the resulting income tax burden is lower than 25% (Günstigerprüfung).
Securities Held by Tax Residents as Business Assets
Payments of interest on the securities and capital gains from the disposition or redemption of securities held as business assets by German tax resident individuals or corporations (including via a partnership, as the case may be), are generally subject to German income tax or corporate income tax (Körperschaftsteuer) (in each case, plus the solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax in case of individuals). The interest and capital gain will also be subject to trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) if the securities form part of the property of a German trade or business. The trade tax rate depends on the municipal multiplier of the respective municipality.
In case the securities’ issue price exceeds the amount paid in respect of such securities at redemption or maturity, holders who purchase such securities at the issue price and hold the securities until redemption or maturity will realize a loss. The tax treatment of such losses in certain circumstances is not entirely clear. According to recently published statements of the German tax authorities regarding “negative interest” incurred on bank deposits made by tax residents holding securities as business assets, such losses should generally be tax deductible as business expenses.
If the securities are held in a custodial account which the holder of the securities maintains with a Disbursing Agent, tax at a rate of 25% (plus the solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax in case of individuals) will also be withheld from interest payments on securities held as business assets. The same also applies generally to capital gains from the disposition or redemption of securities held as business assets. In these cases, the withholding tax does not satisfy the income tax liability of the holder of the securities, as in the case of the flat income tax, but will be credited as advance payment against the personal income or corporate income tax liability (plus the solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax in case of individuals) of the holder of the securities.
Generally, with regards to capital gains, no withholding will be required for securities held by corporations resident in Germany, provided that, regarding corporations of certain legal forms, the status of the corporation has been evidenced by a certificate of the competent tax office. The same also applies to securities, upon application, held by individuals or partnerships as business assets.
Securities Held byNon-Residents
Interest and capital gains are not subject to German taxation fornon-residents (i.e., persons having neither their residence nor their habitual abode nor legal domicile nor place of effective management in the Federal Republic), unless the securities form part of the business property of a permanent establishment (Betriebsstätte) including a permanent representative (ständiger Vertreter) maintained in the Federal Republic. Interest may, however, also be subject to German income tax if it otherwise constitutes taxable income in the Federal Republic, such as income from the letting and leasing of certain German-situs property or income from certain capital investments directly or indirectly secured by German-situs real estate.
Non-residents of the Federal Republic are, in general, exempt from German withholding tax on interest and capital gains and from any solidarity surcharge thereon. However, if the interest or capital gain is subject to German taxation, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, and the securities are held in a custodial account with a Disbursing Agent, withholding tax will be levied as explained above under “—Securities Held by Tax Residents as Private Assets” or under “—Securities Held by Tax Residents as Business Assets,” respectively.
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