Is my world-wide income taxable in Germany?

Short answer: Yes—if you are classed as a German tax resident, your world-wide income is taxable in Germany, though double-taxation treaties usually prevent you from paying twice.

World-wide income taxation in Germany applies once you are “unbeschränkt steuerpflichtig,” meaning you have either a registered home (Wohnsitz) or your centre of life in Germany for more than six months. From that moment you must declare:

• Foreign salary & freelance fees paid into overseas accounts.
• Rental income from property held in your home country.
• Dividends, interest and crypto gains earned on global exchanges.

Germany’s extensive network of double-taxation agreements (DTAs) ensures you do not pay the full tax twice. Instead, tax already paid abroad is credited against your German liability, or the income is exempt but included under the progression clause to set your effective rate. You still need to list every foreign figure on your German return—omissions trigger penalties and late-payment interest.

At Finance for Expats we map your payslips, rental statements and broker reports to the correct German forms, apply treaty relief, and use separate schedules for Section 50d exemptions when you remain tax resident elsewhere. Start with a 30-minute call via our tax desk; we will confirm your residency status, estimate any top-up tax and create a checklist of acceptable English paperwork for the Finanzamt.

Key take-aways:

• German tax residency triggers reporting of global salary, rent, and investment income.
• DTAs credit or exempt foreign tax, but disclosure in Germany remains mandatory.
• Finance for Expats prepares treaty-compliant returns and prevents double taxation headaches.