Thinking about entering Germany from the U.S.? The right legal form determines your tax rate, liability shield, speed to market, and cash-repatriation options. This guide walks you through the practical choices, models the biggest tax levers, and shows how we can set up and run your German operations end-to-end.
Need a tailored answer fast? Sprechen Sie mit unserem Team für grenzüberschreitende Steuern—we’ll model your entity, city, and funding mix and show the after-tax impact.
Inhalt
- Snapshot: how Germany taxes businesses (your baseline)
- Ihre wichtigsten Strukturierungsmöglichkeiten
- Rückführung von Barmitteln und Finanzierung: was normalerweise den Ausschlag gibt
- Betrieb, Einhaltung und Wahrnehmung
- Wie man wählt (kurze Entscheidungshilfe)
- Zeitplan für die Gründung und Checkliste für die ersten 90 Tage
- Alles, was über die Wahl der Entität hinausgeht: Wir können es von Anfang bis Ende ausführen
- Unterm Strich
- FAQs
Snapshot: how Germany taxes businesses (your baseline)
Corporate income tax (KSt): 15% Solidaritätszuschlag (Soli): 5.5% on KSt Gewerbesteuer (Gewerbesteuer): municipal, typically ~14–20% depending on location.
Effective combined burden often lands around ~30%, but varies by municipality. Run your numbers with our city-level calculator inside the Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden (computes KSt + Soli + Gewerbesteuer by city).
Outbound withholding: Dividends generally face WHT (treaty relief often 5%/15%). Interest & royalties can be treaty-exempt when conditions are met. Interest limitation: net interest is generally capped at 30% of EBITDA—model leverage before funding.
Die Abkürzung: Die Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden has rates, forms, deep dives—and the interactive calculator to compare locations before you pick an entity.
Ihre wichtigsten Strukturierungsmöglichkeiten
German subsidiary — GmbH (the practical default)
Warum es funktioniert: strong market perception, ring-fenced liability, straightforward governance. Typical tax ~30% (city-dependent). Kapital: €25,000 stated; minimum €12,500 paid in before registration.
Best for: durable operations, employees, inventory, regulated activity. Tipp: model the trade-tax differences with the calculator in our Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden.
UG (haftungsbeschränkt) — lean entry
Minimal capital (from €1), fast setup. Trade-offs: optics with counterparties; mandatory profit retention until conversion to a full GmbH is common.
GmbH & Co. KG — partnership economics + limited liability
Partnership transparency with a GmbH as GP; flexible allocations and co-investment friendly. Expect trade tax on commercial activity and more admin (two entities). Useful for asset holding or JV-style setups.
German branch (PE) of the U.S. company
Fast (no share capital), simple exit—suited for pilots. Trade-offs: parent-level exposure to German liabilities; some counterparties prefer a local company. Branches are often migrated into a GmbH after product-market fit.
AG / SE — for larger transactions
Capital markets access and broader participation; heavier governance and disclosure. Overkill for most greenfield mid-market entries.
Rückführung von Barmitteln und Finanzierung: was normalerweise den Ausschlag gibt
- Dividende: Structure to qualify for treaty WHT (often 5%/15%); maintain LOB/substance files.
- Zinsen und Tantiemen: Often treaty-exempt with the right facts and documentation; align with transfer pricing.
- Fremdkapital vs. Eigenkapital: Deutschland 30% EBITDA cap can degrade interest deductions—stress-test leverage before funding.
Want a side-by-side cash-tax vs. book-tax for each structure and city? Buchen Sie eine Beratung and we’ll run it with our models + the municipality calculator in the Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden.
Betrieb, Einhaltung und Wahrnehmung
- Substanz/Behandlung: local director, bank, office, and real decision-making support LOB and audit defense.
- Verrechnungspreise: contemporaneous documentation for services, IP, and distribution margins.
- VAT (not U.S. sales tax): plan registrations, invoicing, and filing cadence early to avoid blocked input VAT.
- People & payroll: immigration, social security totalization (U.S.–DE), wage tax—set up from day one.
Wie man wählt (kurze Entscheidungshilfe)
Wählen Sie eine GmbH for a durable footprint and clean liability separation. Start with a branch to learn quickly and migrate to GmbH as you scale. Use a GmbH & Co. KG for partnership economics/co-investors. Consider a UG for ultra-lean pilots when capital is tight.
Zeitplan für die Gründung und Checkliste für die ersten 90 Tage
Vorläufiger Zeitplan: GmbH via notary → bank KYC → capital in → commercial register typically 2–6 weeks (banking drives timing). Branch is faster on paper, but banking/KYC still sets the pace.
- Choose municipality (model Gewerbesteuer mit dem Taschenrechner).
- Lock governance (local director, signatory matrix, D&O).
- Bank account + funding; UBO/KYC pack.
- VAT/CIT/trade-tax registrations; payroll if hiring.
- Intercompany agreements & transfer-pricing policy.
- Repatriation plan (dividend vs. interest/royalty) with treaty documentation.
Alles, was über die Wahl der Entität hinausgeht: Wir können es von Anfang bis Ende ausführen
Wir beraten nicht nur...wir implementieren. Unser Team bearbeitet Unternehmensgründung und Unternehmensführung, Registrierungen beim Finanzamt, die Anfangsbilanz, und laufend Buchhaltung, Jahresabschlüsse, und Steuererklärungen.
For requirements on bookkeeping and financial reporting in Germany, see our Leitfaden für deutsche Buchhaltung und Rechnungswesen (with sub-pages).
Service pages (Germany): Tax Returns - Rechnungslegung - Beratung, Wissenstransfer und Prüfung
Bereit zum Umzug? Kontaktieren Sie uns und wir werden Ihre Struktur, Ihren Zeitplan und Ihre Einreichungen in einer Sitzung erfassen.
Unterm Strich
For most U.S. investors with real operations, a GmbH is the clean, defensible default. Your effective tax rate hinges more on municipality (trade tax), treaty eligibility/LOB, und interest-limitation planning than on the label alone. Use the Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden and its municipality calculator to quantify outcomes—then talk to us to lock in the right setup and get it executed.
Frequently Asked Questions about German Entity Choice (for U.S. Investors):
ℹ️ Klicken Sie auf eine Frage, um die Antwort zu sehen:
What is the most common legal form for a U.S. investment in Germany?
Für die meisten operativen Unternehmen ist eine GmbH (limited liability company) is the practical default: strong market perception, clear liability ring-fence, and straightforward governance. A branch (PE) can work for a quick market test; many investors later migrate to a GmbH.
How much capital do I need to form a GmbH and how long does it take?
The GmbH has stated capital of €25,000; at least €12,500 must be paid in before registration. Typical formation timing is 2–6 weeks (bank KYC often sets the pace). We can handle formation end-to-end—Kontaktieren Sie uns.
When should I use a branch instead of a GmbH?
A branch is fast (no share capital) and suits pilot sales or a light presence. Trade-offs: the U.S. parent is directly exposed to German liabilities and some counterparties prefer a local company. Branches can be rolled into a GmbH later.
What effective tax rate should I model—and does the city matter?
Germany has CIT (15%) plus solidarity surcharge and a municipal Gewerbesteuer. The effective rate typically lands around ~30%—but it varies by municipality. Use our city-level calculator inside the Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden to compare locations (KSt + Soli + Gewerbesteuer).
Is a GmbH & Co. KG better for tax than a GmbH?
It can be—especially for co-investment and flexible allocations—because the partnership is transparent for income tax. However, commercial activity still triggers Gewerbesteuer. Administration is heavier (two entities). We model both paths before you decide.
Are German dividends subject to withholding tax when paid to a U.S. parent?
Yes. Treaty relief under the U.S.–Germany treaty typically reduces WHT to 5% for ≥10% corporate parents or 15% otherwise, subject to LOB and substance. We prepare the documentation and align repatriation with your funding plan.
How do interest deductions work in Germany (30% EBITDA rule)?
Net interest is generally limited to 30% of tax EBITDA. This caps the benefit of shareholder loans. We stress-test your leverage and mix equity/interest/royalties accordingly—start with our models, then refine in a consult.
Do I need VAT registration and German bookkeeping from day one?
Usually yes—Germany is a Umsatzsteuer jurisdiction with frequent filings. You also need local Buchhaltung and financial statements under HGB. See our Leitfaden für deutsche Buchhaltung und Rechnungswesen and our service pages for Rechnungslegung und Tax Returns.
What substance do I need for treaty benefits and audit defense?
Local decision-making, a German director, bank account, office, and contemporaneous transfer-pricing documentation strengthen LOB and treaty positions. We set up governance and documentation with you.
Can we start with a UG (haftungsbeschränkt) and upgrade later?
Yes. The UG allows minimal capital to start; retained profits build equity until conversion to a full GmbH. It’s a lean entry, but some counterparties prefer GmbH from day one. We advise based on optics, budget, and timeline.
How do we choose a city and quantify the tax impact quickly?
Trade tax varies by municipality and can shift your effective rate by several points. Use the calculator inside our Deutscher Unternehmens-steuer-Leitfaden to compare cities, then eine Beratung buchen for a full model (cash-tax & book-tax).
What filings follow formation (first 90 days)?
Tax office registrations (CIT, VAT, trade tax), payroll setup if hiring, opening balance sheet, intercompany agreements and pricing policy. We execute these steps end-to-end—see Beratung, Wissenstransfer und Prüfung und Rechnungslegung.
How do we handle dividends, interest, and royalties for repatriation?
Plan repatriation up front: dividends with treaty WHT relief (5%/15% if eligible), interest subject to the 30% EBITDA cap, and royalties often treaty-exempt with proper substance and pricing. We tailor the mix and keep the files audit-ready.
Can you handle formation, registrations, bookkeeping, and annual filings for us?
Ja. Wir unterstützen Firmengründung, Unternehmensdokumentation, Registrierungen beim Finanzamt, die Anfangsbilanz, laufend Buchhaltung, Jahresabschlüsse, und Steuererklärungen. Siehe unser Leitfaden für Buchhaltung und Rechnungswesen and service pages: Tax Returns, Rechnungslegung, Beratung, Wissenstransfer und Prüfung, oder Kontaktieren Sie uns um loszulegen.