Form descriptions – Germany (CBL)
One-Time Client Declaration (OTCD) to request German Tax Vouchers
Before requesting German Tax Vouchers via the BO Upload List application or Xact Web Portal, clients must first complete the relevant OTCD:
- OTCD Clearstream Banking S.A. English version.
The OTCD must then be sent via mail to:
Clearstream Services Prague Branch
Tax Services Prague
Futurama Business Park
Building B
Sokolovská 662/136b
18600 Prague 8
Czech Republic
The OTCD needs to be provided on the Clearstream client’s letterhead paper and/or with a company stamp and authorised signatures.
Who completes it? | Client. |
How often is it | Once. Valid until revoked. |
When is it provided? | Before requesting German Tax Vouchers. |
Copy or original? | Original/Qualified E-Signature (if applicable) required. |
Request for German Tax Voucher or tax reduction breakdown (upload)
The client can file an application for a single tax voucher (“Einzelsteuerbescheinigung”) with respect to either their own assets or to those of their clients. The client can also file an instruction or tax reduction breakdown based on the German Investment Tax Act (Investmentsteuergesetz; InvStG). As of 1 January 2023 tax reductions can only be granted to investment funds that are fully taxable (“unbeschränkt körperschaftsteuerpflichtig”) in Germany and provide the status certificate and tax reduction breakdown within 18 months following the taxable income event.
An application for a German tax voucher or tax reduction breakdown with respect to a Clearstream Banking client’s assets must be made via electronic upload of a data file in the name of the beneficial owner/end-investor of the capital income (see Guidelines for uploading CSV files for German tax breakdowns and tax vouchers via BO Upload).
Upload processing rejections can be avoided among other by using a dot “." as a separator for shares and fractions. A comma "," should not be used as a separator in your file when ordering German Tax Vouchers. For a full list of guidelines, refer to the German Investment Tax Act (InvStG) web page.
Who completes it? | Client. |
How often is it provided? | Per individual request. |
When is it provided? | Per individual request. |
Copy or original? | Original required. |
Fund Status Certificate
Dividends and similar taxable income in German equities, participation rights and convertible bonds, held by an investment fund company subject to full company tax rate in Germany via Clearstream Banking S.A. can be processed by Clearstream Banking at the reduced tax rate of 15%, if evidence is provided for classification of the investment fund as a fund pursuant to § 1 InvStG or a special investment fund pursuant to § 53 InvStG. The original Fund Status Certificate needs to be provided to Clearstream Banking S.A. Clients must in addition provide a break down to disclose the fund company (identified by the Ordnungsnummer) and the relevant holdings of the fund company per single income payment to get taxation at a reduced rate of 15% (capital income tax including solidary surcharge). This per payment information must be provided to Clearstream Banking until 18 months after the record date of the taxable income event latest, using the Xact Web Portal.
A foreign investment fund can reclaim overpaid tax exclusively from the federal central tax office (“BZSt”), a relief at source or quick refund is not available through Clearstream Banking.
The refund procedure pursuant to Section 11 InvStG for foreign investment funds holding a fund status certificate is outlined on the federal central tax office website, please refer hereto for detailed information.
The Fund Status Certificate must be requested from the responsible German Tax Authorities of the investment fund company.
Who completes it? | The Fund Status Certificate must be requested from the German Tax Authorities. |
How often is it provided? | Once, during the period of validity. The Fund Status Certificate is valid three years. |
When is it provided? | Until 18 months after the record date for investment funds with unlimited tax liability in Germany. |
Copy or original? | Original required. |