Article overview
![Man brainstorming with post-its for blog article 25. I am starting a business, how does this affect my German taxes?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/lala-azizli-XasZ01m128I-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
I am starting a business, how does this affect my German taxes?
It is not uncommon for our American clients to make a living not by working for somebody else, but working for themselves. This pertains to both regular Americans living and working in Germany but also
![graduated female student for blog article 24. I am paying a ton on my US student loans – is there a way to make this a German tax deduction?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/chichi-onyekanne-yqZ7Z3ye154-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
I am paying a ton on my US student loans – is there a way to make this a German tax deduction?
Student loans are a common way for US students to pay their way through college. However, as with any loan they need to be paid back. So, since there is a good chunk of money
![big house in the US with for sale sign for blog article 23. We are renting/selling our home in the US – do we need to report this in Germany?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pexels-pixabay-164522-scaled.jpg)
We are renting/selling our home in the US – do we need to report this in Germany?
Since it is far more common in the US to own real estate it is also pretty common place to use a US home for creation of rental income, or sell it when moving. As
![Woman doing tax filing looking clueless for article Can you tell me differences between US and German tax law?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Unbenannt.png)
Can you tell me differences between US and German tax law?
We covered in a previous article why filing German returns usually feels like a fairly tedious process where the taxperts need to ask all these detailed questions about single items and then still need to
![woman in home office, preview image for blog 27. I run an HBB in Germany and am here under SOFA, what does opting for “unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht” mean for me?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pexels-cottonbro-3585034-scaled-e1722322605958.jpg)
I run an HBB in Germany and am here under SOFA, what does opting for “unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht” mean for me?
Running a home-based-business (HBB) is a popular way for Military spouses to start or continue their own career while following their husband’s career in the US Military. As default mechanism NATO-SOFA stipulates that any time
![woman with face mask for blog article 21. I received US stimulus checks during COVID. Are those taxed in Germany?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/pexels-shvetsa-3902881-scaled.jpg)
I received US stimulus checks during COVID. Are those taxed in Germany?
US stimulus checks were a one-time benefit (even though paid in increments) during the COVID pandemic during the years 2020-2022. Essentially the US government helicoptered checks to mostly every single American (with a few exceptions
![Firefly Eine Deutsche Flagge und eine Amerikanische Flagge vor blauen Himmel. Keine Menschen, nur di](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Firefly-Eine-Deutsche-Flagge-und-eine-Amerikanische-Flagge-vor-blauen-Himmel.-Keine-Menschen-nur-di.jpg)
We are in Germany under SOFA, can there be tax consequences?
First of all, thank you for your service and protecting all of us. We certainly prefer learning English in Germany rather than being forced to familiarize ourselves with Russian – at least the ones of
![US individual tax document](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pexels-rdne-stock-project-7821551-scaled.jpg)
Tax number and tax ID, all the same, right?
Yes and no – and trust us, we understand how this feels confusing. First things first. When you register at town hall upon moving to Germany the German “Bundeszentralamt für Steuern” or “BZSt”, essentially the
![man with artificial leg is standing on stairs and reading from his tablet](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pexels-lara-jameson-9623558-scaled.jpg)
I am receiving disability benefits from the SSA for my injuries in Iraq – can Germany tax those?
The answer is yes – that is if they want to and you let them. Honestly, we do not know why some German tax office are so gung ho about taxing US money that is
![female us reservist sitting in front of house door](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jessica-radanavong-0ZkAINlmtOs-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
I am a Reservist for the US Military in Germany. They are constantly wanting to tax my Reserve pay – what can I do?
US Reservists are an essential part of the US Military footprint in Europe. Thousands of US citizens who have otherwise “normal” jobs and lives on the German economy dedicate so many weeks out of every
![German tax filing disappointed woman](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pexels-mikhail-nilov-6964331-scaled.jpg)
Why is filing in Germany so tedious and why do they need so many details?
We understand that filing a tax return under the best of circumstances is a very unfun subject. So, we do not expect you to find it a joyous thing when it comes to doing it
![service dog](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/martin-castro-SGBGU5ZhENo-unsplash-scaled.jpg)
I have PTSD from Afghanistan – are the expenses for my service dog tax deductible in Germany?
We have a great number of American clients who – due to their time in the US Military and corresponding deployments – suffer from some sort of posttraumatic stress. It is not very surprising when
![9 11 memorial 22. Can Germany tax my GI Bill / post 9/11 benefits?](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/memorial-863327_1920.jpg)
Can Germany tax my GI Bill / post 9/11 benefits?
Mostly every American who leaves the Military receives education benefits. Established after World War 2 and with various changes to the program over time, today the so called “Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)” provides financial
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We are contributing towards a DCFSA – what does this mean in German tax terms?
Usually, child-care in the US (or on the US system when assigned to Germany) is not free and contributing towards a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be a great way to save towards
![](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/taxpatation-image047.jpg)
We are contributing towards a 529 plan – are those tax-free in Germany?
Everybody knows that college in the US can be expensive. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan to save for future education costs that come in two different ways – as education savings plans
![](https://taxpatation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/taxpatation-image035.jpg)
I was in the US Military but am now working as a contractor in Africa and Iraq. Can Germany tax my contractor pay? What if I receive a DBA payout?
Contractors working for private enterprises supporting the US Military have a long-standing history dating back to World War II. Contracting jobs have seen a recent high during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and to
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