In December 2015, the German Federal Ministry of Finance
submitted a draft bill for the reform of the German investment fund
taxation system (German Investment Tax Reform Act –
InvStRefG). The industry and the relevant associations had the
opportunity to provide the Ministry with their comments until 15
January 2016.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the purpose of the reform
was to reduce complexity, eliminate potential EU-level legal risks,
and to prevent tax avoidance models. The changes, which shall take
effect from 1 January 2018, will comprehensively reorganise fund
taxation in Germany.
Domestic and international (foreign/non-resident) investment
funds are subject to corporation tax (at the source of the
investment) on domestic dividends and income from securities
lending, as well as on domestic real estate and other domestic
income. Any corporation tax levied in the form of withholding tax
(WHT) is considered paid; both the corporation tax and the WHT