Important changes

• From June 27, six-week school holidays will begin in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.
• June is Pride month. You can attend and engage in various events throughout June to protest the global oppression of queer individuals, honor those lost to homophobic crimes, and celebrate progress in queer liberation.
• Starting June 20, 2025, the European Union will mandate labels for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc, providing information on energy efficiency, durability, repairability, and battery life. More on it later in the newsletter.
• June 8, 9, and 19 are public holidays in some federal states.
• New reform concerning Hausartz in Germany.
  • The German government introduces an annual flat rate for GPs (General Practitioners). This will reduce the administrative work of GPs and free up more time for new patients.
  • Remove budget caps on GP fees. Hence, enabling GPs to treat more patients without financial penalties.
  • You must first visit a GP before going to a specialist. This aims to reduce the waiting time for a specialist's appointment.

You may pay more tax on dividends from US stocks

Current tax on dividends from US stocks

Currently, 30% withholding tax is due on dividends from US stocks. However, the US and Germany have a double taxation agreement. This reduces the tax to 15%. Furthermore, you can offset this 15% tax against your German withholding tax.

Proposal by Trump

The bill proposes higher withholding taxes, which would apply if other countries impose a "discriminatory tax" on U.S. citizens. For example, the German government recently proposed imposing a 10% digital tax on U.S. technology companies.

The U.S. Treasury Department determines which taxes imposed by other countries come under "discriminatory tax."

If a country imposes a "discriminatory tax," the withholding tax would increase by 5% each year, up to a maximum of 20%. For Germany, this would mean a withholding tax of up to 35% instead of 15%.

If the increased withholding tax bill passes, it'll reduce your return on US stocks. For example, the return of an MSCI World ETF will be reduced by approximately 0.15% per annum.

Conclusion

The bill hasn't passed yet. So, there is no impact as of today.

Even if the bill passes, your returns from US stocks will not decrease significantly. Regardless, you should have a diversified portfolio with the right balance of stocks from different countries in the world.

The best way to achieve it is by buying ETFs. US stocks account for a major portion (more than 50%) of most world ETFs. Thus, another way to reduce your exposure to US stocks is by buying ETFs focusing on other countries or continents, such as EU ETFs, developing country ETFs, etc.

You can open a free trading account with Scalable Capital*, Finanzen.net Zero*, Smartbroker+*, and start a free ETF savings plan.

Buy a house in Germany (Promotion)

Thinking of buying a home in Germany — or investing in real estate for long-term wealth? This book will show you how to do both. Whether you’re an expat or new to the German property market, you’ll learn everything you need to make informed decisions.

Here is what you'll learn in the book

• How to find the right property?
• Mortgage process and how to negotiate the best deals
• Understand property documents
• Average property renovation costs in Germany
• Risks of investing in real estate and how to manage them
• What makes an ideal investment property?
• How to find the right tenant?
• Insurance to protect your interests
• Strategies to build a profitable real estate portfolio

Higher standards for selling mobile devices in the EU

Starting June 20, 2025, the European Union will mandate labels for smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc. The labels will display

• Energy efficiency rating (A to G),
• battery life,
• number of charge cycles,
• durability and repairability grades, and
• IP ratings for dust and water resistance.

Ecodesign Requirements:

Devices must meet the following new standards

• Batteries must retain at least 80% capacity after 800 charge cycles
• Protection against scratches and drops
• Availability of critical spare parts within 5-10 business days for 7 years after a product is discontinued.
• Manufacturers must provide operating system and security updates for five years after a product’s end of sale.

Exemptions:

The following devices are exempt from this new regulation.

• Devices with rollable screens
• Devices sold before June 20, 2025
• High-security communication devices
• Foldable screen phones are also excluded, with separate rules for Windows-based tablets.

The labels aim to increase consumer transparency. However, experts believe the higher standards may raise device prices.

Source: [1]

Tax ID explained

Learn more about taxes and how to save here.

Our social media content calendar is packed with insights into Germany. Learn new German words, discover new places and cuisine in Germany, view infographics like the one above, and more.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram for daily insights about Germany.

Booking.com Fraud

A new phishing scam targets Booking.com users through official channels like the app or website. You'll recieve messages in your app that appear to come from hotels or accommodations.

• Scam Tactics: Fraudulent messages claim payment issues or request "additional card security". In the message, the scammer asks you to act quickly and provide payment details on external sites (outside booking.com). The website url usually contains the term "booking.com" to confuse you. E.g., "booking.com-payment-verification.xyz/", “daten.gaeste-booking.com/”
• How It Works: Criminals likely gain access to a hotel's Booking.com accounts. This lets them view guest bookings and send convincing messages with accurate booking details.
• Recognizing Fraud: Warning signs include pressure to act fast, requests to enter payment details outside Booking.com, or links to unfamiliar websites.

Protective Measures:

• Avoid entering payment information on external sites linked in messages.
• Verify suspicious messages by calling the hotel directly using contact details from their official website or contacting Booking.com’s customer service.
• If you’ve fallen victim, report the incident to your bank immediately so that your account is blocked (e.g., via Germany’s 116 116 hotline) and notify Booking.com.

This scam highlights the need for strong passwords or passphrases to protect accounts. Always set up two-factor authentication to protect your account.

Source: [1]

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Latest News

• A warning has been issued for dog owners concerning blue algae in Berlin's Tegeler See. One dog died due to blue algae toxins. Locals are warned to avoid visiting Tegeler See with their dogs. [1]
• German Chancellor Merz announced that Germany will help Ukraine develop long-range missile systems. The new system will be free of any Western-imposed limitations or restrictions. [2]
• German Chancellor Merz criticized the recent Israeli airstrike on a school shelter. "It's a human tragedy and political catastrophe," he said in a publicly aired interview by WDR.

Community Shoutouts! 📣

• We will launch two new books next month. One explains everything about the German tax system and offers tax-saving tips. The other is for people who want to start their business in Germany. It will guide you through all the German bureaucracy and offer tips to accelerate your business growth.
• Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram to get more insights about Germany daily.

Whether it's a must-visit place, a life hack, or an inspiring story, we’d love to hear from you.

New and recently updated guides

• ​German tax system simplified​
• ​Is your child ready for school in Germany?​
• ​How do you change internet providers in Germany?​
• ​Is legal insurance worth it for disputes with your employer?​

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