German Expat Tax in Portugal

German expat tax in Portugal is shaped by two factors that distinguish it from other corridors. First, Germany's exit taxation rules for substantial shareholdings (Wegzugsbesteuerung) can trigger a capital gains liability when you deregister.

Second, the German pension system — with its mix of gesetzliche Rente, Riester, bAV, and private Rürup contracts — creates treaty allocation questions that most Portuguese accountants typically may not answer. The Germany-Portugal DBA (Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen — double taxation agreement) governs how income is split between the two countries.

It follows the OECD model but includes specific provisions for pensions, government service income, and social security payments that differ from treaties with the UK or US. Under German domestic law, unlimited income tax liability applies while you maintain a Wohnsitz or gewöhnlicher Aufenthalt in Germany (EStG §1 with AO §8/§9 definitions).

After those ties are genuinely severed and non-resident status is established, Germany generally taxes only German-sourced income: rental income from German property, German dividends, German pension payments, and income from German employment or self-employment. Portugal taxes you on worldwide income from the date you become Portuguese tax resident. The DBA prevents double taxation through tax credits and exemptions.

But the DBA does not apply automatically. Your Portuguese IRS return may need to claim the correct treaty provisions for each income stream. Your German return may need to reflect your non-resident status. GSC data confirms demand: "portugal steuerberater" already generates 121 impressions on the Taxbordr site — German-speaking individuals searching for a tax advisor in Portugal.

This page serves that audience with English-language content that addresses German-specific treaty positions. Taxbordr prepares the Portuguese side and issues a Position Memo — a founder-signed written document prepared by Telmo Ramos (Ordem dos Economistas Cédula No. 16379) — that your German Steuerberater can rely on for treaty alignment.

The DBA between Germany and Portugal assigns taxing rights income by income. Understanding the allocation prevents both overpayment and compliance errors. Employment income. If you work in Portugal, Portugal taxes the salary. If you work remotely for a German employer, the physical location of work determines taxation. Days worked in Portugal are Portuguese-sourced.

Days worked in Germany during business trips are German-sourced. The 183-day rule within the DBA (separate from Portugal's residency rule) determines whether Germany retains taxing rights on short-term assignments. Gesetzliche Rente (statutory pension). German state pension payments to a Portuguese resident are taxable in Germany under the DBA. Germany retains primary taxing rights on the gesetzliche Rente.

Portugal also taxes the pension as worldwide income but grants a credit for the German tax. The practical effect: you pay the higher of the two rates. Germany taxes an increasing percentage of the pension (83% taxable for 2025 retirees, rising to 100% by 2058). Riester-Rente. Riester pension payments are treated as pension income under the DBA.

Germany may withhold tax. Portugal taxes the gross amount at progressive rates with a treaty credit. If you withdraw a Riester contract early or receive a lump sum, the "schädliche Verwendung" (harmful use) provisions may trigger repayment of Riester subsidies to Germany — a trap that catches many emigrants. Betriebliche Altersversorgung (bAV).

Company pension schemes follow the pension article of the DBA. Payments are generally taxable in the country of residence (Portugal). Germany may withhold at source. Portugal taxes and grants a credit. The specific treatment depends on the bAV vehicle (Direktzusage, Pensionskasse, Unterstützungskasse, etc.). Rürup-Rente (Basisrente). Rürup pension payments follow the same treaty article as the gesetzliche Rente.

Germany retains taxing rights. Portugal taxes with a credit. Contributions to Rürup after becoming Portuguese resident do not generate German tax deductions. Dividends and interest. The DBA caps German withholding at 15% on dividends and 10% on interest. Portugal taxes the gross amounts at progressive rates (or 28% autonomous rate) and credits the German withholding.

German Kapitalertragsteuer (capital gains withholding tax) of 25% + Soli exceeds the treaty rate — you may need to apply for a reduced rate or file a German refund claim. Capital gains. Gains on German real property are taxable in both countries. Gains on securities are generally taxable only in Portugal.

Exception: Wegzugsbesteuerung (exit tax) on substantial shareholdings (1%+ in a German GmbH or AG) triggers German tax on unrealised gains at departure. This exit tax applies even within the EU/EEA, though deferral options exist. Rental income from German property. Taxable in both countries. Germany taxes rental income under its progressive rates (with non-resident Einkommensteuererklärung).

Portugal taxes the gross rental income and…

Deregistering your German residence (Abmeldung) is an important administrative step, but by itself it is not typically sufficient to end tax residency. If you still maintain a usable dwelling or habitual presence in Germany, your local Finanzamt may continue to treat you as resident and tax your worldwide income. Step 1 — Abmeldung at the Einwohnermeldeamt.

Visit your local registration office and formally deregister. You will receive an Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate). This document is essential for proving non-residency to the Finanzamt. Step 2 — Notify the Finanzamt. Inform your local Finanzamt of your departure. File your final German resident tax return (Einkommensteuererklärung) for the year of departure.

This return covers income from 1 January to your departure date. Step 3 — Sever residential ties. Cancel your German apartment or house rental. Dispose of or sublet your German residence. Close German club memberships and social ties that suggest ongoing residency.

Maintaining a furnished apartment in Germany can cause the Finanzamt to argue you remain subject to unlimited German tax liability (unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht). Step 4 — Review Wegzugsbesteuerung exposure. If you hold 1% or more in a German corporation (GmbH, AG), the exit tax on unrealised gains applies. Within the EU/EEA, you can defer payment (interest-free since ECJ rulings).

Consult your Steuerberater before departure to assess exposure and file the required elections. Step 5 — Establish Portuguese residency. Register your NIF, establish your Finanças address, and confirm your Portuguese tax residency. Obtain your IFICI eligibility for German arrivals assessment if you are moving for qualifying professional activity.

After departure, you file two returns. The German non-resident return (beschränkte Steuerpflicht) covers German-sourced income only. The Portuguese IRS return covers worldwide income. German side. File the Einkommensteuererklärung as a non-resident. Report German rental income, pension income, and any German employment income.

Apply for treaty-rate withholding on dividends and interest (Freistellungsauftrag does not apply to non-residents — use Antrag auf Erstattung von Kapitalertragsteuer). Portuguese side. File the IRS Modelo 3 with Anexo J for all German income. Declare each pension type separately with the German country code. Claim foreign tax credits for German tax withheld or assessed.

If you hold NHR or IFICI status, apply the regime provisions to qualifying income. Timeline alignment. Portuguese filing: April to June. German filing: varies, but typically by 31 July of the following year (extended to February with a Steuerberater). File the Portuguese return first to confirm the Portuguese tax position, then align the German return. Ansässigkeitsbescheinigung.

You may need a certificate of tax residency from Finanças (Certificado de Residência Fiscal) to present to the German Finanzamt or to German banks requesting treaty-rate withholding. Taxbordr can assist with obtaining this certificate. The Position Memo documents every treaty position applied on the Portuguese return. Your German Steuerberater receives a copy to ensure the two filings are consistent.

1. Not deregistering properly. The Abmeldung alone does not end German tax residency if you maintain a German dwelling. The Finanzamt can argue unlimited tax liability as long as a habitable residence is available to you in Germany. 2. Withdrawing Riester early. A Riester contract terminated after emigration triggers repayment of all state subsidies (Zulagen) and tax benefits.

The "schädliche Verwendung" penalty can eliminate years of accumulated subsidies. 3. Ignoring Wegzugsbesteuerung. German entrepreneurs with GmbH shares who move without filing the exit tax election face penalties and interest. The deferral may need to be elected proactively. 4. Paying 25% Kapitalertragsteuer instead of treaty rates. German banks automatically withhold 25% + Soli on dividends and interest.

Non-residents with DBA protection are entitled to reduced rates. You may need to file a refund claim (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) — the reduction is not automatic. 5. Not claiming the foreign tax credit in Portugal. Declaring German pension income on the Portuguese return without claiming the credit for German tax already paid results in double taxation.

The credit may need to be actively claimed on every income line in Anexo J. For German-Portuguese cross-border tax services, Taxbordr handles the Portuguese filing and delivers the Position Memo. Coordination with your German Steuerberater ensures both returns align under the DBA.

Cross-border accuracy requires one coordinated narrative for both administrations: Define residency status and timeline once. Map each income stream to treaty article logic. Keep pension and investment classification consistent across returns. Reconcile final assessed taxes and retain evidence of relief mechanism. The most expensive German corridor errors come from mixed assumptions across advisors. One integrated position memo prevents that drift.