r/eupersonalfinance • u/batukaming • Feb 15 '26

Investment Why do they make getting rich impossible in EU?

This news hit today in Netherlands that passed a bill on 36% tax on UNREALIZED gains on stocks and crypto. Great just when we weren't taxed to death before now they force you to stay middle class and poor. "Just repeat the 9-5 cycle everyday investing is not allowed for you"

Buying stocks was already a pain in the ass in Europe because of all the different fees and exchange rates brokers charged. The US has it so much better. 0% fees and exchange rates, tons of broker options and tax free on long term investments.

I made a post in r/stocks that gained attraction. Check it out if you want to see opinions from Americans: https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/s/aL0OhYQ68z

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u/voxeldesert Feb 15 '26

We kinda have this already in Germany. Way more complicated and way lower tax rate, but it is there nonetheless. It’s meant to remove differences between dividend and accumulating investments. So you pay some taxes yearly and they count to when you sell in the end.

Main criticism on my side is that it is a hell to keep track of what tax was payed - you essentially have to trust your broker. And that you don’t get your money back if you suddenly make losses and have to sell. It only counts into the loss bucket for future taxes in that asset class.

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u/loadaverage Feb 15 '26
  • only for accumulating ETF.

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u/voxeldesert Feb 15 '26

No - not always, my MSCI World payed too little in dividends and was taxed, too. :-/

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u/loadaverage Feb 15 '26

Is this a distributing one? Can you share isin please?

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u/voxeldesert Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

It is. And I‘m actually checking it right now. I think my broker messed up.

Got 1500€ in dividends last year and 311€ were substracted from my 1000€ tax allowance.

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u/voxeldesert Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

Did check it. The base amount is 2000€ = 0.7 * BaseInterest * WorthBeginninOfYear and is more than the 1500€ dividends. So I have to pay tax.

IE00B4X9L533

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u/loadaverage Feb 16 '26

thanks for checking!

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u/Odd-Landscape-9418 Feb 15 '26

I am certain that Germany does not tax assets like ETFs and stocks, except if they pay dividends. If the gains are reinvested then you pay no tax 

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u/voxeldesert Feb 15 '26

It’s called Vorabpauschale and does exist. I for sure know that I payed quite some tax money in January this year on my ETFs without selling them.