Btw, if you know a good German tax advisor, preferably one who knows how to deal with a UK Ltd managed from Germany, please DM me :)

To clarify: I moved here to join my gf. I’m happy to pay taxes, I just can’t figure out how to because it’s so complicated. I have a tax advisor but he struggles with my setup (UK Ltd) and I don’t want to switch to GmbH because I’m only staying here a year or two.

@BenjaminHouy I would like to know what your exact problems are. I had multiple companies here and yes there’s bureaucracy, but not impossible to handle. As for your other remark: 3rd biggest economy in the world despite only 80m population! Never forget!

@malmaladei Just to give one example: registered my company 5 months ago, still don’t have a company tax number. FinanzAmt keeps telling me it’s coming but can’t explain why it’s taking so long.

@BenjaminHouy In my opinion, a UK Ltd. doesn't give you any advantages over a GmbH, UG, or AG if you are running your business in or from Germany. To the contrary, actually, it's a bit more complicated, because you get a mix of German/UK/international law, while it doesn't change anything in

@Orcasandwich Oh I agree. I have a UK Ltd because I lived in the UK when I started the company. And I plan on moving back in a year or 2 so moving the legal entity to Germany does not make sense for me. Otherwise I would have switched to GMBH.

@BenjaminHouy I am telling you why Germany is still functioning: by the superhuman industry and because of the inexplicable pain tolerance of working Germans.

@maxotte_says This pain tolerance should be studied!

@BenjaminHouy This is the first time I read a post like this. I thought I would be alone thinking "It was the biggest mistake ever to bring my children to Germany." And I am a German person. Thanks God, left the country again many years ago.

@ShamsDaniela_ Curious what you regret? I thought providing a great environment to raise children was one thing Germany was great at?

@BenjaminHouy same. they're at least 20 years behind Poland. you figured out what is the purpose of the Bundeskartelamt, or not?

@ThoughtSlav2137 Something to do with drug cartels?

@BenjaminHouy Amen. Native German here and I’d advise everybody who wants to start a business to leave Germany first.

@ThisIsTheFatRat Which is a shame because Germany has a lot to offer :(

@BenjaminHouy A workaround is to keep the company UK resident for tax purposes then pay yourself with dividends (taxed in .de) Having a UK service address and evidence you routinely travel there to manage/control the business (day to day work can happen in .de) would be a must though.

@cooperx86 That’s what my accountant recommended but seems a bit complicated in practice. Do you happen to know any such service?

@BenjaminHouy I'm a bootstrapped solopreneur based in Germany and hearing very similar of stories from people who started companies here. That's one of the reasons why I'm still operating as a freelancer (which is actually pretty straightforward), but I wouldn't incorporate as a company here

@magheru_san The issue is that it’s extremely difficult to find a good tax advisor because they all have too many clients already.

@BenjaminHouy Why did you move there?

@vrexec Love

@BenjaminHouy Legit question. Why did you think this was a good idea

@zeroknotsETH I didn’t, I moved here because my girlfriend lives here.

@BenjaminHouy Are you thinking about leaving? Perhaps the proposed US asylum plan for Europeans?

@janmikkelsen Yes, I like Germany but the UK suits me better. And running a business is much easier there.

@BenjaminHouy Your own competency is not even questioned in your mini rant. I'd start there.

@boisdulac_ You are right. It’s all my fault, Germany has absolutely no problem with red tape.

@BenjaminHouy Don’t stay too long, look into “wegzugsbesteuerung”/“exit tax”, only applies if you were a tax resident for 7 years, but just a heads up ;) owning at least 1% company shares (foreign or German company doesn’t matter) will catch you into this trap.

@Bin4ryDigit Only planning on staying a year or two so should be ok :)