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What is the advance lump sum?

The so-called advance lump sum ensures that a certain minimum taxation takes place at the investor level - even in cases where a fund makes no or insufficient distributions. The amount of the advance lump sum always refers to the previous year. When the shares are actually sold, the advance lump sums taxed up to that point are deducted from the proceeds of the sale (proceeds of sale minus acquisition data minus advance lump sum).

This means that a capital gain is reduced (and thus the tax burden). In the case of a capital loss, the advance lump sum already calculated increases your capital loss. Double taxation is therefore excluded.

The advance lump sum has been levied and taxed since the beginning of 2019.

What is the advance lump sum?



What is partial exemption?

For certain domestic income, there is an additional burden of corporation tax at the fund level for public investment funds. To offset this pre-taxation at the fund level, fund distributions, advance lump sums, and capital gains from the sale of fund units are partially exempt from tax. This is referred to as a "partial exemption".

The rate of the fund-specific partial exemption depends on the type of fund (as of October 2018):

  • 30% for equity funds (at least 51% equity according to the investment conditions)
  • 15% for mixed funds (at least 25% equity according to the investment conditions)
  • 60% for real estate funds (at least 51% in real estate or real estate companies according to the investment conditions)
  • 80% for real estate funds with a foreign focus (at least 51% in foreign real estate or foreign real estate companies according to the investment conditions)

The classification of a fund into a fund category is based on the investment policy by the fund company (investment company). They provide the qualification of the fund (e.g. equity or mixed fund).

 

The tax certificate from the custodian banks usually states: "Total of all positive capital income, gains and earnings (including distributions, advance lump sums and gains from the sale of investment units after partial exemption)." The individual items are then explained in more detail. Investors should carefully check whether this is also the case with their tax certificate. If the disclosure has not been made: You should request the statement on the equity ratio, real estate ratio, etc. from your fund provider if it has not already been sent to you unsolicited.

These figures are often already published online in the annual reports. Check the relevant ratios of your fund. If, for example, the equity ratio is consistently more than 50%, a partial exemption of 30% should be applied, which must be claimed in the tax return - and not with the fund provider or the custodian bank. Failure to do so may result in paying too much income tax on your capital income.

What is partial exemption?



Which funds are affected by the advance flat rate?

In principle, all domestic and foreign investment funds (including ETFs) can be affected by the advance lump sum.

For distributing funds, any distribution made is taken into account when calculating the advance lump sum. If the distribution is sufficiently high, no advance lump sum is incurred. It can therefore be assumed that the advance lump sum mainly affects accumulating funds.

Which funds are affected by the advance flat rate?



Is the withholding tax on the advance lump sum credited upon a later sale?

Yes, when the fund shares are sold at a later date, all advance lump sums of the fund that have already been taxed are deducted from the sales proceeds on a pro rata basis.

This is to avoid double taxation.

Is the withholding tax on the advance lump sum credited upon a later sale?



What is the advance flat rate?

At the beginning of January 2019, the German tax authorities charged investment savers an advance lump sum for the first time for the year 2018. This was used to tax income from accumulating and partially accumulating funds. The advance lump sum is, economically speaking, a pre-taxation of future capital gains. Therefore, it is deducted from the actual capital gain when the fund shares are sold.

The advance lump sum is not based on the actual profits but is calculated using a specific formula. The advance lump sum amounts to 70 per cent of the annual base interest rate of the Bundesbank multiplied by the value of the fund share at the beginning of the year (so-called base return). The base return is limited to the excess amount that results between the first and last redemption price plus distributions. If no redemption price is set, the stock exchange or market price applies instead.

For the year 2020, the BMF announced a base interest rate of 0.07 per cent, which the Deutsche Bundesbank calculated on 2.1.2020 based on the yield curve data. 70 per cent of the base interest rate is 0.049 per cent. The withholding tax of 25 per cent plus solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax is then applied to this. And this amount is to be taxed as an advance lump sum. However, the - fictitious - inflow only occurred in the following year, specifically on 4.1.2021. The inflow regulation results from the legal provision of § 18 para. 3 InvStG (BMF letter of 29.1.2020, BStBl 2020 I p. 218).

Currently, the following applies to the advance lump sum for the year 2023:

  • The base interest rate on 2.1.2023 is 2.55 per cent. 70% of the base interest rate is 1.785 per cent. The withholding tax of 25 per cent plus, if applicable, solidarity surcharge and church tax is then applied to this.
  • The advance lump sum is deemed to have been received by the investor on the first working day of the following year, i.e. on 2.1.2024 (BMF letter of 4.1.2023, IV C 1-S 1980-1/19/10038:007).

What is the advance flat rate?


Field help

Type of investment trust

Select the type of investment trust. You can choose between the following options:

  • Equity funds
  • Balanced mutual funds
  • Property-based funds
  • Foreign property funds
  • Other investment funds

You can obtain data from the tax statement of your bank (according to the official requirements of the tax authorities).

The partial exemption shall apply in the following amounts to

  • Balanced mutual funds: 15% partial exemption
  • Equity funds: 30% partial exemption
  • Property-based funds: 60% partial exemption
  • Foreign property funds: 80% partial exemption
  • Other funds: 0% partial exemption
ISIN

Please enter the International 12-digit Securities Identification Number (ISIN), which you can find in your bank's tax statement.

Number of fund shares sold

Specify the number of shares sold. You can specify values with up to four numbers after the decimal point.

You can find the value in your bank's tax statement.

Sale price (for all share certificates)

Indicate the selling price obtained for the sale of all shares of the investment trust.

You can find the value in the tax statement from your bank.

Redemption price as at 31.12.2017 (without interim gains)

Enter here the redemption price as of 31.12.2017 (without interim gains).

You can also find the value in your bank's tax statement. If no redemption price was determined by 31.12.2017, enter the respective stock exchange price on the key date 31.12.2017. For this purpose, search your documents for the ISIN (International Securities Identification Number) and determine the corresponding values www.bundesanzeiger.de.

Important: The notional acquisition costs as of 1 January 2018 are generally based on the last redemption price of the fund shares fixed in the calendar year 2017.

Incidental costs of the sale

Enter here capital expenses incurred in connection with the sale of the investment trusts.

Gain or loss on sale
(rounded to full euro amounts)

The capital gain/loss is rounded to full euro amounts and results from the selling price minus the acquisition and sales costs.

Gains and losses from the sale/redemption of fund shares are generally taxable for the investor. A capital gain/loss is subject to a partial exemption if the fund meets the requirements for such exemption. The notional disposal result - both a gain and a loss - for fund shares purchased between 2009 and 2017 is therefore relevant for tax purposes in the event of a subsequent sale.

The tax exemption for fund shares acquired before 2009 was restricted by the reform of investment taxation. Increases in value achieved from these fund shares are taxable from 2018 onwards, subject to an allowance of 100.000 Euro.

In contrast, gains/losses based on changes in value up to the end of 2017 are not subject to taxation in the case of protected old shares.

Credited foreign taxes (line 40 of Form KAP)
Credited foreign taxes (line 40 of Form KAP)

Here you enter the credited foreign taxes according to line 51 of your tax statement.

Сreditable foreign taxes (line 41 of Form KAP)
Сreditable foreign taxes (line 41 of Form KAP)

Here you enter the credited foreign taxes according to line 52 of your tax statement.

Notional foreign taxes (line 42 of Form KAP)
Notional foreign taxes (line 42 of Form KAP)

Here you enter the notional foreign tax at source according to line 53 of your tax statement.

Distribution before partial exemption

Enter the amount of the gross distribution from investment funds here – that is, the full amount credited to you before the partial exemption is applied.

The partial exemption is automatically taken into account by the programme. You therefore do not need to calculate which portion remains tax-free.

Background on partial exemption

Certain income from investment funds is only partially subject to tax. This is done through the so-called partial exemption. It is intended to offset income already taxed at the fund level and non-creditable foreign withholding taxes.

The amount of the partial exemption depends on the type of fund and is for private investors:

  • 30% for equity funds
  • 15% for mixed funds
  • 60% for real estate funds
  • 80% for real estate funds with predominantly foreign properties

The classification of the fund can be found in the sales prospectus or the investment conditions.

Example: An investor receives a distribution of 1.000 Euro from an equity fund in the year 2024. The full amount of 1.000 Euro must be entered in the field. The programme automatically applies the partial exemption of 30%, so only 700 Euro are subject to tax.

Have foreign tax deductions been credited?
Have foreign tax deductions been credited?

Select "yes" if foreign taxes have already been withheld in 2024.

The foreign taxes can be credited against the German tax. However, possible tax credit regulations under a possible double taxation agreement (DTA) must be taken into account.

Fund shares purchased on

Enter here when you have bought the fund shares.

The acquisition date is the date on which the asset was acquired through payment or transferred to the taxpayer's private assets.

Did you sell shares in this trust in 2024?
Information about the fund shares sold in 2024

Select "yes" if you sold shares of an investment fund in the year 2024.

Note: Shares with different acquisition dates must be entered separately in accordance with the requirements of the tax authorities.

Fund shares acquired before 01.01.2018: The following applies to units purchased before 01.01.2018: the profit/loss from a notional disposal is determined by the bank. The last redemption price set in 2017 is decisive. The bank holds the notional profit until the units are actually sold, as this only becomes effective for tax purposes at that point.

Fund shares acquired after 31.12.2017: The provisions of the investment tax reform 2018 apply to sales of shares acquired after 31.12.2017. There is no special treatment such as the notional disposal. Profits from such sales are fully subject to the flat-rate withholding tax.

Purchase price / acquisition cost (for all share certificates)

Enter the purchase price for all share certificates on the purchase date.

Fund shares purchased before 1 January 2018:

Instead of the actual acquisition costs, the so-called notional acquisition costs as of 1 January 2018 are to be entered here.

The notional acquisition cost corresponds to the redemption price determined by the fund company as of 31 December 2017.

Fund shares purchased after 31 December 2017:

Enter the actual acquisition costs. These include:

  • The purchase price of the fund shares.
  • Service charges such as estate agents' fees, commissions or other transaction costs incurred in connection with the purchase.

To calculate the taxable gains/losses, it is crucial that the acquisition costs are stated correctly. You should therefore enter these carefully, especially if the shares have different acquisition dates.

Is information on the advance lump sum required for this fund?
Hinweis: Negativer Basiszins - Ermittlung Vorabpauschale 2024 nicht erforderlich (Für 2024 deaktiv!)

Select "yes" if at least one of the following applies to you:

1. You purchased fund shares in 2023

You purchased fund shares through a foreign bank/broker – e.g. in March and/or October.

Example: Mr Müller purchases shares in an equity fund on 15 March 2023.

2. Earnings were automatically reinvested (thesaurisation)

For some funds, earnings (e.g. interest or dividends) are not paid out but automatically reinvested in new fund shares. This is also considered a purchase for tax purposes.

Example: Ms Schneider owns shares in a fund. On 30 June 2023, the fund automatically reinvests earnings. Although she did nothing, this is considered a new acquisition for tax purposes.

3. You already had fund shares in your portfolio on 01.01.2023

Even if you did not purchase anything new in 2023 but already owned shares on 1 January 2023, you must select "yes".

Please enter "01.01.2023" as the fictitious purchase date for determining the advance lump sum – even if you bought the shares many years earlier.

Example: Mr Meier has had fund shares in his portfolio since 2020. He did not sell anything in 2023. However, since he owned the shares all year, the advance lump sum must be determined.

Background on the advance lump sum:
Since 2019, all investment funds are subject to minimum taxation on undistributed earnings – the so-called advance lump sum. It is charged retroactively on 2 January of the following year, i.e. for 2023 on 2 January 2024.

Multiple purchases in the year?
If you purchased fund shares or had them automatically reinvested multiple times in 2023, you must record each transaction individually.


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