Social security contributions in Germany in 2026
Let's look at what social contributions there are in Germany. Two types of payments are deducted from an employee's salary: social security contributions and income...
INCOME TAX IN GERMANY
We constantly hear that taxes in Germany are huge. Let's figure out whether they really are that huge and what they depend on From...
Do pensioners pay tax?
Pensions in Germany are subject to tax – but far from all of them, and not for everyone. For the majority of recipients…
Scalable Capital is closing accounts of clients with Russian…
In early August, Scalable Capital clients holding a Russian passport began receiving notices terminating their accounts. In the cases known to us…
DAX — German stock index
DAX — the main German stock index, the DAX (Deutscher Aktienindex), shows how the German stock market is performing overall...
ETF savings plan
ETF savings plan: how it works An ETF savings plan is an instruction to a broker to deduct a fixed amount every month or quarter and…
Everything you need to know about ETFs
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), or exchange-traded funds, represent an important element of the modern investment world. But what…
ETFs — INVESTMENT FUNDS
ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) — exchange-traded investment funds. An ETF is a fund that tracks the composition of a stock exchange index. By purchasing...
Robocalls “from PayPal”: how the…
The call starts with an automated voice message supposedly from PayPal: a suspicious payment has been initiated on your account, press “1” to…
State pension in Germany
The German state pension system through Deutsche Rentenversicherung ensures the financial stability of citizens in old age, as well as supporting them in...
How to file a tax return in Germany yourself
Doing your tax return (Steuererklärung) in Germany seems like a complex task, especially if you are self-employed or have multiple sources of income….
Self-directed investing with WhiteBox
In the digital age, investing is becoming more accessible and efficient. The Freiburg im Breisgau-based company Whitebox offers an intelligent approach to managing...
Financial security for retired women in...
Financial security in retirement is the key to a calm and free life. However, women in Germany face a whole…
Everything you need to know about Vermögenswirksame Leistungen
How to grow capital with the help of your employer and the state. Vermögenswirksame Leistungen (VL) is an excellent bonus that many employers…
Child savings
When parents think about building capital for their children—for education, an apartment, a car, a wedding or the first driving lessons...
Methods of earning pension points — Entgeltpunkte
We were recently looking at the issue of receiving a state pension in Germany. To better understand how the amount of your pension is calculated, it is important...
All about Kindergeld
Kindergeld is a fixed monthly state allowance for a child. This money is a «child subsistence minimum» and is intended to...
Best credit cards with airport lounge access in Germany
Choosing the right credit card with airport lounge access can significantly improve your travel experience. Here is our selection of the best...
Why pensioners in Germany can travel around...
Germany offers a stable pension system, but comfort in old age depends on more than just the state. Find out how pensions work…
Accounting programmes and applications and…
In Germany, both for businesses and private individuals, proper bookkeeping and compliance with tax obligations play...
The procedure for company and self-employed/freelancer registration.
Procedure for registering a company and a self-employed person with the tax office (Finanzamt) in Germany Registration of a company (Gewerbe) or a self-employed person (Selbstständige) in…
How to become a Selbstständige (self-employed). Important steps.
Starting your own business in Germany is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Being your own boss, bringing to life…
What's the difference between easyInvesto and ComfortInvest?
Nowadays, there are special online platforms, known as robo-advisors, which allow even beginners to invest independently. And not just...
Self-directed investing with ComfortInvest
ComfortInvest is an online self-investment platform with professionals, operating entirely online. With ComfortInvest you can...
Self-directed investing with professionals
Prefer to invest in the future rather than accumulate? easyInvesto provides professional asset management, individually tailored to your level...
Investment in precious metals
For millennia, gold and silver have retained their purchasing power, serving as both a medium of payment and a store of value.
Crypto investments — greed and fear
Greed and fear are two basic human instincts that completely suppress rational thinking. Times change, and so do the options…
ALG II — social benefit
Unemployment benefit Arbeitslosengeld II, also known as Hartz IV, is a basic social security benefit for…
Cryptocurrency taxation in Germany
In which cases does an investor pay tax on cryptocurrency, and how to make use of a tax relief.
What taxes does a German investor pay?
Taxation of investments: specific features, tax rate, and the income classes to which it applies.
Compulsory pension contributions for the self-employed
Answering a frequent question — mandatory pension contributions for the self-employed. The self-employed include Selbstständige and Freiberufler. The government is...
Changes to GIROKONTO services
CHANGES TO GIROKONTO SERVICES. During 2021, many banks introduced various fees and towards the end of the year the news…
SCHUFA. What do you need to know?
In Germany, people's financial activities are completely transparent. We are all like «glass citizens» here, there is a continuous...
Widow's pension / Widower's pension
Widow’s or Widower’s Pension (Witwen- oder Witwer-Rente) – HOW MUCH, FOR HOW LONG AND WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Most of us have heard…
Taxation of investments
What tax needs to be paid on investment income in Germany – briefly, by points. A detailed analysis with all exemptions,...
5 rules of personal finance
Knowing how to manage your personal finances is one of the most important life skills. Following these simple rules will help...
How to withdraw money from bank cards in…
It might seem like a trivial question — where and how to withdraw cash from bank cards in Germany? However, even here...
Characteristics of consumer credit in Germany
What is the maximum loan amount you can expect to get? Who will not be able to get a loan?
Couples income tax
TAXATION OF SPOUSES' INCOME Initially, income tax is based on the individual principle: one taxpayer — one tax return. This applies to a certain…
