Gambatte

To what purpose do they take your education and employment into consideration? Gary, are you saying that two persons both with identical age X, and years of employment in Germany Y, can qualify for a pension at different age depending on their education and employment? 

Including Lüftungsanlage?

The company that built/installed our central heating is offering a contract of yearly servicing for 233eur/yr. We live in a new built from 2019. They're saying the obvious vendor things, the system will remain efficient saving you money long term, safety, blabla. I'm all in favor of servicing things before they break rather than after, but hey it seems overpriced, more than 40% of our yearly gas bill.   Opinions?

HH, I perfectly endorse the engineering mantra "don't repair it if it's not broken".   But inspecting and cleaning is not repairing.  

Why only twice in 22yr and not more regularly?

The contract includes servicing the heating (135eur+MwSt.) and luftung (62eur+MwSt.). And in case of emergency (on a 1yr old system? unlikely) they will come without emergency surcharge. Parts not included, if any needed.   Yep, I'll ask for other quotes. 

This is interesting. Like day trading in the stock market. It boils down to how much are you prepared to "risk" waiting for a rate that perhaps will never materialize...  

But bear in mind that "free banking" has never actually been free. 

Thanks. Wow, I did not imagine currencies to have such long term dramatic trend, I thought it was only fluctuations.

Thanks.

Thanks Sure. And I'm fine with it. But the difference between shares/assets and currencies is that shares/assets are expected to grow long term, for good reason. After all when you buy shares of Tesla or whatever you buy a piece a a business, and businesses as such are expected by their own nature to generate wealth. Currencies on the other hand are NOT expected to grow long term, are expected ONLY to fluctuate.  

It's not Friday but never mind, most stupid investment question ever...   If I buy Funds linked to an index denominated in a currency other than the EUR, does it make me exposed to currency volatility on top of stock market fluctuation? My guess is yes. But I'm surprised I've never seen this mentioned.   Example: I buy S&P 500 (which is denominated in USD) paying with my German EUR. A year  later this index went up 7% but the USD dropped 3%. Did I effectively win 7%, or did I win 4%? Speaking before costs fees TER etc of course...

bob, you have my simpathy on this...   just some random thoughts: 1) these things tend to be always scarier than they should. And they are challenging only at the beginning, once they are set it's plain sailing... 2) I think the word "salary" is wrong, "salary" is what employees get 3) If you do go this way it's probably easier for them to drop you if/when is convenient for them. This is one of the reasons many workers prefer to be employed rather than self employed.   Good luck!

  but come'on, there are millions of workers in Germany that are self employed and this is exactly what they do... ...and many of these workers (I'm guessing here) have level of education much lower than yours...   ... if they do it ...   Some of them (ok, probably a minority) have customers outside Germany, so they do exactly what kb has described...  

  Banks communicate with the tax authorities. Whether we know it or like it or not. That's probably how many tax cheats are caught. And that's why people intending to cheat on taxes insist on cash. Never a car workshop offered you a discount provided you pay cash?

Wrong question. Even if you never had to so far, the FA could come and ask anytime. That's why many tradesman insist on bargeld.

I suspect the OP intended having to explain to the FA, not to the Bank.    

This is why everybody here loves Panda.

Why TWO Anlage? What is each of them, V and AUS, for?   Edit: I just checked the link above, Panda wrote "you have to report the UK rental income in Anlage V and Anlage AUS, ". Fine with it but why the heck we need TWO Anlage?

Why TWO Anlage? What is each of them, V and AUS, for?

Do not worry! These things appear always scarier than they are in reality.  And these are questions you better ask them directly.   Calm! No need to worry. I know these things can intimidate you, but really no reason for it.  

  I suggest you keep your German bank account, it will probably be useful after you moved. Although your German bank will probably charge a (very small) monthly fee. And I expect you will be able to access it from outside Germany, people do this all the time. The App doing what you say is not an obstacle. Don't be shy to ask "obvious" things, this is what this forum is for.

  Ah, thanks for answering, your wording really confused me, I read it as "anyone ALREADY reported UK rental income to the FA?". Don't be intimidated more than necessary. These tax thingy are always scary the first time around. Once done, they become plain sailing the second time around... Cheers,

    Are you not too early? You must report the UK income to the Finanzamt only for the German tax year 2021 onward. And this you can do it only from 1.1.2022. How can anyone possibly have experience in reporting UK rental income to the FA?   All well and good discussing it, but nobody can possibly have done it already.   Maybe I'm wrong, either way I'd like to hear.