Field help
Type of statement
On this page, you can select the type of tax statement you wish to include in your tax return. Depending on your selection, the relevant fields for entering your capital income will be displayed.
The following options are available:
Tax statement for private accounts/securities accounts
You will usually receive this statement from your bank or broker. It contains information about capital income such as interest from savings and current accounts, dividends from shares, profits from the sale of securities, as well as withheld capital gains tax, solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, church tax.
These are often domestic capital gains that have already been subject to tax deduction.
Tax statement for a life insurance policy
Relates to income from life insurance policies, for example, payouts or bonuses. These are subject to capital gains tax if certain conditions – such as term or age at payout – are not met.
Interest from the tax office on tax refunds
Interest on tax refunds (sect. 233a of the Fiscal Code (AO)) is considered taxable capital income and must be entered manually in the KAP form – it is not automatically taken into account.
Other tax statement
Select this option for statements that do not fall into any of the above categories – for example, for foreign capital income. These are usually income without domestic tax deduction.
Document retention obligation: Tax statements no longer need to be submitted with the tax return, but must be presented only upon request by the tax office.
Exception: The tax statement must be enclosed if
- losses are claimed or
- withheld taxes are to be credited.
Line 26a Process and default interest
In this field, enter the legal and/or late payment interest that you received in the year 2024 and that does not fall under income from agriculture and forestry, business, self-employment or rental and leasing.
This interest applies, for example, if you have been credited with interest as a result of legal proceedings or late payments.
Example: In 2024, you received default interest due to a lawsuit you won because a monetary claim was paid late.
Line 24 (Unbalanced) Losses from forward transactions
Enter here the unbalanced losses from forward transactions (Termingeschäfte).
Losses from forward transactions, in particular from the sale, closing out and expiry of options, may only be offset against gains from forward transactions and against income from option premiums up to the amount of 20.000 Euro.
Losses that have not been offset may be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against profits from forward transactions and against income from option premiums in the amount of 20.000 Euro each, if a profit or income that can be offset remains after the offsetting of losses during the year.
Important: If you do not have a (tax) statement from your bank, the losses must be taken from the accounting documents of the bank/custodian. At the request of the tax office, the losses incurred must be proven by means of a (tax) statement or accounting documents.
Since 01.01.2021, a limitation applies to the offsetting of losses. Losses from forward transactions, in particular from the expiry of options, can now only be offset against profits from forward transactions and income from option transactions. The offsetting of losses is limited to 20.000 Euro. Losses that have not been offset may be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against gains from forward transactions or against option premiums in the amount of 20.000 euros each, if an offsettable gain remains after the offsetting of losses during the year (sect. 20, para. 6, sentence 5 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)). The offsetting of losses according to sect. 20 para. 6 sentence 5 of the Income Tax Act (EStG) only takes place within the assessment process, i.e. the custodian banks do not carry it out!
Line 25 Losses from other receivables from investment
Enter here losses that you incurred according to line 25 of your tax statement and that were not previously subject to domestic tax deduction. These include
- losses from the total or partial uncollectibility of a capital claim,
- losses from the write-off of valueless assets,
- losses from the transfer of valueless assets to a third party, or
- losses from any other loss of assets within the meaning of section 20 para. 1 of the Income Tax Act (EStG).
These losses can only be offset against income from capital assets up to the amount of 20.000 Euro. Losses that have not been offset can be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against income from capital assets in the amount of 20.000 Euro each.
The bank might confirm the losses incurred due to the total or partial uncollectibility of a capital claim, which you can offset in the course of the assessment.
If you do not have a (tax) statement from your bank, the losses must be taken from the accounting documents of the bank/custodian. At the request of the tax office, the losses incurred must be proven by a (tax) statement or the accounting documents.
Please note: The loss offset according to sect. 20 para. 6 sentences 5 and 6 of the Income Tax Act (EStG) only takes place as part of the assessment process, i.e. it is not carried out by the custodian banks! Therefore, when submitting your income tax return, request that the corresponding losses be included in the assessment and fill out the Form KAP!
Line 7 Amount of capital gains
Enter the capital gains stated in line 7 of the current tax statement from your bank or investment company here.
These earnings are subject to domestic tax deduction, meaning your bank has already withheld the capital gains tax (withholding tax) and paid it to the tax office.
Typical examples:
- Interest from savings accounts, instant access savings accounts, or fixed-term deposits
- Dividends from shares or funds
- Profits from the sale of securities if the tax has already been paid
- Interest on pension back payments if paid through a financial institution
Important: Enter each tax certificate separately. Only enter the amount from the current certificate here.
Line 7 Amount of capital gains (corrected)
Enter the corrected amount of your capital gains here if the tax deduction by the bank was incorrect and you wish to request a correction by the tax office.
Typical reasons for a correction include:
- missing acquisition costs (e.g. after transfer of securities),
- unconsidered selling costs,
- gift or inheritance not reported to the bank,
- foreign withholding tax not credited,
- church tax deducted despite leaving the church.
Please submit an explanation and supporting documents with your tax return.
Line 8 ... gains from the sale of shares included therein (corrected)
Enter the corrected amount of profits from the sale of shares here, if this differs from the amount reported on the tax statement.
This is the case, for example, if there are additional transaction costs or unconsidered losses.
A statement with supporting documents is required.
Line 10 ... profits contained therein from protected old shares
Enter here the profits from the sale of protected old shares according to line 10 of your tax statement.
Changes in the value of protected old shares from 1 January 2018 (fund shares acquired before 1 January 2009 and held as private assets since that date) are taxable if they exceed the tax allowance of 100.000 Euro. The tax allowance is taken into account by the tax office.
You can find the amounts to be entered in the information section of the tax statement.
Only the capital gains are to be entered. Capital losses should not be balanced against capital gains.
Line 11 ... substitute assessment basis included therein
Enter the substitute assessment basis in accordance with sect. 43 a para. 2 Income Tax Act (EStG) as shown in line 11 of your annual tax statement.
What is a substitute assessment basis?
If the bank does not have information on the purchase costs when selling or redeeming securities, it estimates the profit. In this case, 30% of the sales proceeds is assumed as taxable profit.
This amount is reported by the bank and is listed in the annual tax statement.
Example: You sold securities for 10.000 Euro. The bank does not know the purchase costs and assumes 30% (= 3.000 Euro) as profit. Enter 3.000 Euro in line 11.
Note: If you can prove that the actual profit from the sale is lower than the substitute assessment basis set by the bank, you should correct the amount (see section "Review of capital gains" on this page).
Line 11 ... substitute assessment basis (corrected) included therein
If the bank applied a flat-rate substitute basis of assessment (30% of the proceeds) due to lack of data, but you can prove the actual, lower profit, enter the corrected amount for the substitute basis of assessment here.
The original amount from your bank's tax certificate remains unchanged.
The correction must be supported by purchase and sales documents.
Did you have any losses (lines 12-15)?
Select "yes" if you incurred losses from capital investments in the tax year 2024, for example through:
- the sale of securities (e.g. bonds, funds),
- the disposal of shares,
- futures transactions (e.g. options, futures, CFDs),
- other capital claims (e.g. defaulted private loans).
Loss certificate required
To claim the losses for tax purposes, you need a loss certificate from your bank or broker. This must be applied for by 15 December of the respective year at the latest.
Only with this certificate can you:
- declare losses in the tax return
- offset losses across different banks
Note on share losses
Losses from share sales may only be offset against profits from share sales (sect. 20 para. 6 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)). Offsetting against interest or fund gains is not permitted.
Line 12 Losses without sale of shares
Enter the unbalanced losses without the losses from the sale of shares according to line 12 of your tax statement.
If you want to claim losses, the tax statement must always be submitted together with the tax return.
Line 12 Losses without sale of shares (corrected)
Enter corrected losses from investments here, provided no share sales are involved (e.g. interest from defaulted bonds or losses from funds).
A correction is possible, for example, if losses were not shown or were shown too low on the tax certificate.
Please submit evidence and a brief explanation.
Line 13 Losses from the sale of shares
Enter the unbalanced losses from the sale of shares according to line 13 in your tax statement.
If you wish to claim losses from the sale of shares, you must always submit the corresponding tax statement together with the tax return.
Note: If you had shares that have lost their value and have been written off from your custody account, the bank does not offset any losses. In other words, it does not put losses into the loss pot. This applies even if you only have one custody account through which you carry out all share transactions. It is mandatory that you include the losses from shares that have lost their value in your tax return.
Line 13 Losses from the sale of shares (corrected)
Enter corrected losses from the sale of shares here if they are not included or are incorrect in your tax statement.
Losses from share sales may only be offset against gains from share sales.
A detailed statement and supporting documents are required.
Line 14 Losses from forward transactions
Enter here the unbalanced losses from forward transactions (Termingeschäfte) according to line 14 of your tax statement.
Losses from forward transactions, in particular from the sale, closing out and expiry of options, may only be offset against gains from forward transactions and against income from option premiums up to the amount of 20.000 Euro.
Losses that have not been offset may be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against profits from forward transactions and against income from option premiums in the amount of 20.000 Euro each, if a profit or income that can be offset remains after the offsetting of losses during the year.
Important: If you do not have a (tax) statement from your bank, the losses must be taken from the accounting documents of the bank/custodian. At the request of the tax office, the losses incurred must be proven by means of a (tax) statement or accounting documents.
Since 01.01.2021, a limitation applies to the offsetting of losses. Losses from forward transactions, in particular from the expiry of options, can now only be offset against profits from forward transactions and income from option transactions. The offsetting of losses is limited to 20.000 Euro. Losses that have not been offset may be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against gains from forward transactions or against option premiums in the amount of 20.000 euros each, if an offsettable gain remains after the offsetting of losses during the year (sect. 20, para. 6, sentence 5 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)). The offsetting of losses according to sect. 20 para. 6 sentence 5 of the Income Tax Act (EStG) only takes place within the assessment process, i.e. it is not carried out by the custodian banks!
Currently, the Federal Ministry of Finance clarifies that warrants and certificates are not forward transactions, but "capital claims within the meaning of sect. 20 para. 1 no. 7 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)". This means: Losses are not limited to gains from forward transactions and limited to 20.000 Euro, but can be offset without limitation with gains from other capital investments (letter of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) dated 03.06.2021, IV C 1-S 2252/19/10003:002, para. 8). However, in the case of pure "loss of value", losses may only be offset against income from capital assets in the amount of 20.000 Euro.
Line 14 Losses from forward transactions (corrected)
Enter corrected losses from forward transactions here if the loss certified by the bank is incorrect or has not been taken into account.
This includes, for example, losses from options, futures, or contracts for difference (CFDs).
Line 15 Losses from other receivables from investment
Enter the losses that you incurred according to line 15 of your tax statement. These include:
- Losses from the total or partial uncollectibility of capital receivables,
- Losses from the write-off of valueless assets,
- Losses from the transfer of valueless assets to a third party or
- Losses from any other loss of assets.
These losses can only be offset against income from capital assets up to the amount of 20.000 Euro. Losses that have not been offset can be carried forward to subsequent years and offset against income from capital assets in the amount of 20.000 Euro each.
The bank might have notified you of any losses incurred as a result of the total or partial uncollectability of receivables from investment, which you can offset during the assessment.
If you do not have a (tax) statement from your bank, the losses must be taken from the accounting documents of the bank/custodian. At the request of the tax office, the losses incurred must be proven by means of a (tax) statement or the accounting documents.
Please note: The financial institution does not offset losses incurred due to derecognition from the deposit independently. The losses must therefore be included in the tax return.
Line 15 Losses from other receivables from investment (corrected)
Enter corrected losses from capital claims here, e.g. for defaulted loans or bonds, if these have not been recorded elsewhere.
A correction is possible if these losses are not included in the tax certificate.
Please submit appropriate evidence and an explanation.
Line 16 Saver's allowance
Enter the saver's allowance claimed according to line 16 of the current annual tax statement from your bank.
The saver’s allowance is a tax-free maximum amount for capital gains such as interest, dividends, or capital gains. For the tax year 2024, it is:
- 1.000 Euro for individual assessment
- 2.000 Euro for joint assessment of spouses or civil partners (sect. 20 para. 9 of the Income Tax Act (EStG))
The bank automatically applies this allowance if you have provided an exemption order. The actual amount credited is shown in line 16 of the respective tax statement.
Example: You have given Bank A an exemption order for 800 Euro. The annual tax statement from this bank shows an amount of 800 Euro in line 16. Enter exactly this amount.
If no exemption order was in place at this bank, enter "0 Euro". The unused part of the saver’s allowance can potentially be credited in the income tax assessment.
Line 18 Domestic capital gains without tax deduction
Enter interest or other capital gains from Germany where no withholding tax was deducted – for example, because the payer (e.g. in the case of a private loan) was not obliged to withhold tax.
Typical examples:
- Interest from private loans, e.g. if you lent money to another private individual for interest
- Interest from rental deposits, if these were paid directly to you without tax deduction
- Interest from maintenance reserves, if these are held in a separate account and earn interest
This income must be taxed subsequently as part of the income tax return (§ 20 EStG).
Note on loans to related persons:
Interest from private loans to related persons should only be included in the KAP form if the loan was granted on an arm's length basis. If there is a dependency relationship or the borrower cannot make independent decisions, the interest must be declared in the SO form. In case of doubt, the tax office may reclassify it as other income (§ 42 AO).
Line 19 Foreign capital gains
Enter foreign capital gains without tax deduction according to line 19 of your tax statement.
This includes, for example, investment income from foreign reinvesting investment funds (even if they are held in a domestic bank deposit) and income from foreign banks (e. g. dividends and interest paid by a foreign debtor). Please submit the corresponding income statement of your bank.
This income is not subject to withholding tax and must be taxed subsequently in the income tax return.
Important: Please submit corresponding income statements for foreign capital gains without tax deduction.
Line 30 Income from life insurance policies
Enter here the income from life insurance policies according to line 30 of your tax statement
- that were concluded after 31.12.2004 and
- for which the benefits were paid out after the age of 60 and
- which were paid out after twelve years after conclusion of the contract.
Half of the capital gains from such life insurance policies are tax-exempt. The reduction for the half tax exemption is made by the tax office.
Please find the capital gains from a domestic insurance contract in the tax statement. In the case of a foreign insurance contract, you can determine the capital gains from the difference between the insurance benefit and the sum of the premiums paid on it.
In the case of income from unit-linked life insurance policies, only the amount resulting from the partial tax exemption within the meaning of sect. 20 para. 1 no. 6 sentence 9 of the Income Tax Act (EStG) is to be entered. Please find the value to be entered in the tax statement of your provider.
Do the capital gains include extraordinary income that is taxed at a reduced rate?
Line 35 Amount of income to be taxed at a reduced rate
Do the capital gains in lines 27 to 33 include extraordinary income that is taxed at a reduced rate?
Line 36 Amount of income to be taxed at a reduced rate
Do the capital gains in line 8 include extraordinary income that is taxed at a reduced rate?
Amount of the income taxed at a reduced rate
Do the capital gains in line 16 include extraordinary income that is taxed at a reduced rate?
Amount of reduced taxable income
Please indicate any extraordinary capital gains for which you would like to apply the reduced taxation according to sect. 34 para. 1 of the Income Tax Act (EStG).
Extraordinary capital gains are categorised as extraordinary income and can be taxed at a preferential rate under certain conditions in accordance with the so-called "one fifth regulation". This regulation applies if:
- the capital gains extend over at least two assessment periods and
- a time period of more than 12 months is covered (sect. 34, para. 2, no. 4 of the Income Tax Act (EStG)).
Examples of extraordinary capital gains:
- Severance payments upon termination of participation agreements, for example, upon dissolution of a silent partnership or an atypical silent participation.
- Remuneration for the transfer of rights, such as the transfer of participation rights or sales rights from long-term capital investments.
- Additional payments of income from capital assets, for example, interest or profit sharing, that have been accumulated over several years and are paid out in one sum.
- One-off profit participations from shareholdings, for example, when a holding company is dissolved.
- Capital gains from long-term participations, when an investment is sold after many years and the profit is considered extraordinary.
- One-time payments for the surrender of shares, such as the voluntary surrender of shares with special rights or preferential shares.
- Repayments from insurance products with capital gains, if these returns from endowment life insurance have been accumulated over a long period of time and are paid out in a single amount.
Do you want to enter information about foreign taxes at source (lines 40 to 42)?
Select Yes if you want to enter information about foreign taxes at source according to lines 40 to 42 of your tax statement.
In the case of foreign taxes at source, a distinction is made between "credited" or "creditable" foreign taxes:
- Foreign taxes that have already been credited by the credit institution must be entered in line 40.
- Foreign taxes that have not yet been credited but are creditable must be entered in line 41.
- In addition, there are notional foreign taxes. These are stated by the credit institutions in exceptional cases if the deductibility of withholding taxes cannot be assessed, for example, in the case of notional withholding tax with special credit requirements.
Only the foreign taxes that have been assessed and paid and for which no claim for reduction can be asserted in the source state - according to its national law or on the basis of a double taxation agreement (DTA) - are creditable. For individual questions on the final withholding tax, see the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) letter dated 18 January 2016.
Declared taxes at source will only be credited by the tax offices if the investor can prove them with an original tax statement. You should therefore submit supporting documents.
Line 40 Credited foreign taxes
Enter foreign taxes at source that have already been credited by your bank against the final withholding tax to be withheld and stated in the tax statement in line 40.
The crediting of withholding taxes carried out by the bank is limited in amount to the rate permitted under the respective double taxation agreement (DTA). If the maximum rate permitted under a DTA is higher than 25%, the creditable withholding tax is limited to 25%.
Declared tax amounts at source will only be credited by the tax offices if the investor can prove them with an original tax statement. You should therefore submit supporting documents.
Line 41 Creditable foreign taxes
Enter here creditable - not yet credited - foreign taxes at source. Foreign taxes that have not yet been credited but are creditable must be entered in line 41.
Declared tax amounts at source will only be credited by the tax offices if the investor can prove them with an original tax statement. You should therefore submit supporting documents.
Line 42 Notional foreign tax
Enter here notional foreign taxes at source according to line 42 of your tax statement.
In exceptional cases, credit institutions may not assess the deductibility of taxes at source, for example, in the case of notional taxes at source with special credit requirements. In this case, these notional taxes are shown here in the tax statement. The tax office will decide on the creditability of notional taxes at source.
Declared taxes at source will only be credited by the tax offices if the investor can prove them with an original tax statement. You should therefore submit supporting documents.
Do you want to enter data for the lines 28 to 33?
Select Yes if you want to enter amounts for lines 27 to 33 of the Form KAP.
In certain cases, capital gains are always subject to your individual tax rate and thus to the tariff tax. The final withholding tax rate of 25% does not apply in these cases. These cases include
- Income taxable at the standard rate (line 28): This includes, for example, loans to corporations or cooperatives in which you hold at least 10%.,
- Gains from the sale or redemption of investments or capital claims taxable at the standard rate (line 29),
- Investment income from life insurance policies concluded after 31.12.2004 (line 30).
Line 28 Income to be taxed by tariff
Enter the capital gains taxed at the standard rate. This includes, among other things, income from other capital claims of all kinds, silent partnerships and participatory loans.
If, for example, you have granted a loan to a person closely associated with you, the income from it (minus the related income-related expenses) must be declared as income here, provided that the expenses corresponding to the capital gains are operating expenses or income-related expenses for the debtor.
A related party is to be assumed if there is a relationship of dependency between the two persons and the controlled person does not have any leeway for his or her own decisions.
Loans to corporations or cooperatives in which you hold at least 10% of the shares and for back-to-back financing are also to be entered here.
Please enter the withholding tax amounts attributable to these capital gains in lines 51 to 53. A saver's standard allowance is not granted for this income.
The capital gains are not taxed at the final withholding tax rate of 25% but are subject to the individual tax rate.
Line 26 Interest from the tax office on tax refunds
Enter here the interest you have received from the tax office on tax refunds.
This so-called refund interest (sect. 233a of the Fiscal Code (AO)) arises when the tax office pays out tax refunds late. It is considered to be income from capital assets and is subject to taxation in accordance with sect. 20 para. 1 no. 7 of the Income Tax Act (EStG).
What belongs here?
- All interests that the tax office has credited to you for late tax refunds.
- This interest must be declared in full, as the tax office does not withhold capital gains tax or make any other deductions.
Do you want to enter data for the lines 20 to 26a?
Select Yes if you want to enter amounts for
lines 20 to 25 of the Form KAP.
You must provide information here if the foreign capital gains include
- gains from the sale of shares,
- option premiums and gains from forward transactions,
- losses from capital gains without the sale of shares, or
- losses from the sale of shares
You can also enter here losses from forward transactions and from other capital claims.
Line 20 ... profits from the sale of shares included therein
Specify here the capital gains from the sale of shares that have not been subject to withholding tax. This amount must be included in lines 18 and 19 of Form KAP.
Example: Profits from the sale of shares held in a foreign investment account.
Should the values of the employment tax statement (Lohnsteuerbescheinigung) be checked or corrected?
In certain cases, you can request a review or correction of the information from your tax statement. This is advisable if not all information was correctly considered during the tax deduction by the financial institution.
A review by the tax office is particularly possible if:
- the saver's allowance was not fully utilised during the tax deduction,
- an excessive substitute assessment basis was applied because the bank was unaware of the acquisition costs,
- losses were not or insufficiently considered in the calculation of capital gains, or
- the income may only be partially taxed in Germany under a double taxation agreement (DTA).
What should you do?
In these cases, enter the corrected amounts in the fields below and explain the corrections in a separate statement to the tax office.
Example: You sold shares with a profit of 5.000 Euro. The bank only considered 250 Euro in costs, but you actually had 750 Euro in expenses. Enter the corrected profit and submit the evidence for the additional costs.
Line 30 Capital gains from life insurance policies
Half of the capital gains from insurance contracts concluded after December 31, 2004 (capital insurances with savings form and annuity insurances with capital option rights, unless the annuity payment is chosen), the payment of which was made after reaching the age of 60 and after twelve years from the conclusion of the contract, are tax-free. For contracts concluded from 2012 onwards, the age of 62 is decisive.
The capital gains from a domestic insurance contract can be found in the tax statement that you received from your insurance provider.
In case of a foreign insurance contract, you should calculate the capital gains from the difference between the insurance benefit and the sum of the premiums paid on it.
Half of the tax exemption is reduced by the tax office.
