GermanPedia
Learn something new about Germany every day. We cover every aspect of life in Germany: insurance, tax, real estate, schooling, scams, etc.
Advanced tax is due on your ETFs in 2025Governments come up with innovative schemes on how to tax people. German government developed one in 2018 by introducing an advanced flat rate (Vorabpauschale). In layman's words, the tax office assumes a fictitious income from your ETFs and charges a tax on it. It doesn't matter if you actually sold the ETF for profit. Furthermore, if you sell the ETFs at a loss at any point in the future, you won't get the paid tax back. I know you want to say it. CRAZYYYY... There is a silver lining, though. When you sell your ETFs for profit in the future, you won't pay the taxes twice. The tax you have already paid will be deducted. What can you do about it?
Does this all sound too complicated? Of course, it does. This is why we recommend consulting a tax advisor. This takes us to another problem. Where will I find a good English-speaking tax advisor with reasonable fees? No worries, we found one for you. You can book a tax consultation call, request services like changing your tax class and tax residency certificate, or request a free quote directly via GermanPedia. The best part is that the tax advisor charges a flat rate for their services. This ensures you know how much filing a tax return will cost you before committing to it—no surprises.
Germany health reformGermany’s hospital reform will become law on January 1, 2025, after passing through the Bundesrat. The most important change is how the hospitals in Germany will be funded. How was it before?Before this reform, hospitals and clinics were paid for the treatments they performed. There was no reward for providing services. It's like only paying the fire brigade when there's a fire. This led hospitals to prioritize treatments with higher profit margins, ignoring or avoiding other treatments. How will it be after the reform?After the reform, hospitals will receive guaranteed funding based on the services, staff, and technical equipment available. This will encourage hospitals to have proper staff, specialists, and equipment. In the end, it will benefit patients. Patients will not have to wait or travel to another city to visit a specialist. Moreover, patients don't have to get treatment that isn't medically necessary but profitable for the clinics. NewsA cyclist was killed in traffic this week in BerlinA 38-year-old cyclist dies on the spot after being hit by a BMW. Every year, around 250 cyclists die in road accidents. Thus, wearing helmets and having proper gear is critical when you hit the road. You must have front and back lights and reflective vests so that people can see you in the dark. Most importantly, be careful. Angela Merkel's autobiography was released last TuesdayHave you ever wondered what drove Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor, when she made key decisions like phasing out nuclear plants, blocking Ukraine and Georgia from joining NATO, welcoming 1 million refugees from Ukraine, etc.? The book Freedom: Memoirs 1954-2021, can give you some answers. Please ignore the reviews on Amazon. The reviews are more about criticizing the author and not the book. If you enjoy politics and want to gain insights into Angela Merkel's mindset, give this book a try. Community Shoutouts!
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GermanPedia
Learn something new about Germany every day. We cover every aspect of life in Germany: insurance, tax, real estate, schooling, scams, etc.