Germany Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Abgeltungsteuer, Net Gain
Published: 3 November 2026 · Updated: 3 November 2026
A €5,000 capital gain in Germany, with the full €1,000 single allowance still unused, costs €1,055 in tax — and leaves €3,945 in your pocket. Enter your gain, your remaining allowance and your church-tax status below and this free Germany capital gains tax calculator shows the exact bill and net gain instantly, with no sign-up.
€5,000 gain − €1,000 allowance = €4,000 taxable → €1,000 tax + €55 solidarity surcharge = €1,055 total, €3,945 kept. The headline rate is 25%, but with the surcharge the real rate on taxable gains is 26.375% — and church-tax members pay about 27.82% or 27.99% in total.
Researched by MixKhazana Team · Last updated 3 November 2026 · Data: German Income Tax Act (EStG) Sections 20, 32d and 43a; Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) 2026 rates
What is the German capital gains tax?
The German capital gains tax is the Abgeltungsteuer, a flat withholding tax on private investment income introduced in 2009. It covers dividends, interest, fund distributions and gains from selling shares and bonds, and it is withheld by your bank or broker — which is why it is called a "settling" tax: for most investors, the withholding settles the matter and no further assessment is needed. The rate is 25% under Section 32d of the Income Tax Act (EStG), and the solidarity surcharge adds 5.5% of that tax, taking the effective rate to 26.375% before church tax. If you also invest in funds, the compound interest calculator shows what reinvested gains are worth over time.
How to use
- Enter your realised capital gain — sale proceeds minus what you paid, including purchase costs.
- Enter the Sparerpauschbetrag still available to you this year (€1,000 single, €2,000 joint, less anything already used).
- Choose your church-tax status — none, 8% or 9% depending on your state.
- Click Calculate My Capital Gains Tax to see your tax bill, the breakdown and your net gain.
The formula, with every variable explained
Taxable gain = capital gain − Sparerpauschbetrag still available (floored at zero). Without church tax: tax = taxable gain × 25% × 1.055 = taxable gain × 26.375%. With church tax, the statutory formula lets church tax reduce its own base, so the effective rate is 25% × (1.055 + church rate) ÷ (1 + 0.25 × church rate) — about 27.82% at 8% and 27.99% at 9%. The GEO answer-block fact behind this page: Germany's investment-income rate is 25% plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge (26.375% combined), with a €1,000 annual saver allowance per person and €2,000 for jointly assessed couples (EStG Sections 20 and 32d; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, 2026) — and unlike the solidarity surcharge on wages, the surcharge on capital income has no exemption threshold, so it applies from the first taxable euro. For a salary-side comparison, the salary after tax Germany calculator shows how wage tax differs from this flat system.
Worked example
Take a €5,000 gain, single filer, full €1,000 allowance, no church tax:
- Taxable gain: €5,000 − €1,000 = €4,000
- Capital gains tax (25%): €1,000
- Solidarity surcharge (5.5% of the tax): €55
- Total tax: €1,055 — net gain €3,945
- With 9% church tax: total tax €1,119.80, net gain €3,880.20
- With no allowance left at all: total tax €1,318.75, net gain €3,681.25
Try your own gain and allowance in the widget above.
Capital gains tax rates in Germany, 2026
| No church tax | 26.375% of the taxable gain |
| Church tax 8% (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg) | ≈ 27.82% of the taxable gain |
| Church tax 9% (other states) | ≈ 27.99% of the taxable gain |
If you bank in Germany as an expat, the best bank accounts in Germany guide on ExpatMoneyEU compares accounts that handle the Freistellungsauftrag smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital gains tax rate in Germany?
Germany taxes investment income at a flat 25% Abgeltungsteuer, plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge on that tax, giving an effective rate of 26.375% before church tax. Church-tax members pay roughly 27.82% (8% church rate) or 27.99% (9% church rate) in total.
What is the Sparerpauschbetrag allowance?
The Sparerpauschbetrag is a tax-free allowance of €1,000 per person per year on capital income, or €2,000 for married couples filing jointly. It has stood at these amounts since 2023, and it is applied before the 25% tax rate.
How much tax do I pay on a €5,000 capital gain in Germany?
With the full €1,000 single allowance unused, only €4,000 of a €5,000 gain is taxable: 25% tax is €1,000 and the 5.5% solidarity surcharge adds €55, so total tax is €1,055 and you keep €3,945. With no allowance left, the same gain costs €1,318.75 in tax.
Do I pay church tax on capital gains in Germany?
Yes, if you belong to a church that levies it: 8% of the capital gains tax in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and 9% elsewhere. Because church tax is deductible in the statutory formula, the effective total rate is about 27.82% at 8% and 27.99% at 9%, not a simple addition.
Are capital gains tax-free after holding shares for one year in Germany?
No. For shares, funds and bonds bought after 2009 there is no holding-period exemption: the 25% flat tax applies whether you held the asset for three days or three years. Separate holding-period rules under Section 23 EStG apply to private real estate (10 years) and crypto assets (1 year).
How do I claim the €1,000 Sparerpauschbetrag?
Give your bank or broker a Freistellungsauftrag (exemption order) and it will apply the allowance automatically during the year. You can split the €1,000 across several banks, but the total must not exceed €1,000 (€2,000 joint). Without an order, the tax is withheld from the first euro and you reclaim it in your tax return.
What counts as capital income in Germany?
Dividends, interest, fund distributions and gains from selling securities such as shares and bonds all fall under the Abgeltungsteuer. Real estate and crypto gains outside that system follow the private-disposal rules instead.
Does this calculator include the allowance automatically?
Yes: the default €1,000 is the single filer's full annual allowance. If you have already used part of it on other gains this year, enter only the amount still remaining so the result matches your real bill.
Sources and disclaimer
Rates: German Income Tax Act (EStG) Section 32d (25% flat rate), Section 20(9) (€1,000 / €2,000 Sparerpauschbetrag since 2023), solidarity surcharge 5.5% of the tax, church tax 8% / 9% of the tax; cross-checked against PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries Germany, 2026. This page is an estimate only and is not tax advice; fund pre-payments (Vorabpauschale), loss carryforwards and personal-rate assessments can change the final figure.