Buying US Stocks from Germany: Rules, Limits, Routes

German residents can freely invest in US stocks. All investment income including foreign dividends and capital gains is subject to flat Abgeltungsteuer.

Domestic broker with a US partner

Your local broker routes the order to a partner in the United States. You hold real shares with voting and dividend rights, under full identity verification.

International broker account

You open the account offshore yourself and remit under your country’s rules. Ownership is the same, and the reporting duties sit with you.

Perpetual exposure on Canborsa

A US-equity perpetual tracks the share price and settles in crypto: no broker, no remittance, no share, no votes and no dividends. Funding is charged or paid every 1h while the position is open, and deposits arrive as USDC on six networks.

Yes, Interactive Brokers is rated the best broker in Germany for trading US stocks.

Interactive Brokers serves German residents for US stock trading.

Dividend income for German residents, including from US stocks, is subject to a flat 25% tax rate plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge.