Vorabpauschale Calculator
Estimate the German advance lump-sum tax on your accumulating ETFs and funds - the tax you owe each January even without selling. 2026 Basiszins 3.2%, 30% Teilfreistellung and €1,000 allowance applied.
Estimate, not tax advice. The exact figure uses the fund value on January 1, per-month pro-rating for units bought during the year, and is capped at the fund's actual gain. Your bank withholds it automatically in January. Confirm with your Steuerberater.
Vorabpauschale - FAQ
What is the Vorabpauschale?
The Vorabpauschale ("advance lump sum") is a German pre-emptive tax on accumulating (thesaurierend) investment funds and ETFs. Because these funds reinvest returns instead of distributing them, Germany taxes a deemed minimum return each year - even if you never sell a single share.
Do I pay the Vorabpauschale even if I don't sell?
Yes. That is the whole point of it. Your bank (Depotbank) automatically calculates and withholds the tax in January for the previous year, taking it from your cash account. When you eventually sell, the amounts already taxed are credited so you are not taxed twice.
How is the Vorabpauschale calculated?
Basisertrag = fund value at the start of the year × Basiszins × 70%. The Vorabpauschale is capped at the fund's actual gain for the year. It is then reduced by the Teilfreistellung (30% for equity funds), your €1,000 Sparer-Pauschbetrag allowance is applied, and the rest is taxed at ~26.375% (Abgeltungsteuer + Solidaritätszuschlag).
What is the Basiszins for 2026?
The Bundesbank set the Basiszins (base interest rate) at a record 3.2% for 2026, up from 2.53% in 2025. A higher Basiszins means a higher deemed return and therefore a higher Vorabpauschale - this calculator uses the 2026 rate by default.
What is the Sparer-Pauschbetrag?
It is your annual tax-free allowance on investment income: €1,000 for a single person (€2,000 for jointly assessed couples) in 2025/2026. The Vorabpauschale is offset against any allowance you have not already used on dividends or realized gains.
Accumulating vs distributing ETFs - what's the difference?
Distributing (ausschüttend) ETFs pay dividends to your account, which are taxed as they arrive. Accumulating (thesaurierend) ETFs reinvest instead - so the Vorabpauschale exists to tax them a little each year. This calculator is for accumulating funds.
How accurate is this estimate?
It applies the official formula with the Basiszins you select and is an estimate, not tax advice. The exact figure uses the fund value on January 1 and per-month pro-rating for units bought during the year. Confirm with your Steuerberater or your bank's tax statement.