Hamburg

If you are a US expat living in Germany, you may have already realized how difficult it can be to navigate two tax systems. Differing tax deadlines, income tax rates and brackets, and reporting requirements only complicate the situation.

When choosing health insurance in Germany, you’re often not just choosing for yourself — you’re choosing for the family members that depend on you.Health insurance is a requirement in Germany, but there is plenty of choice: statutory health insurance or private health insurance.

Before you begin your studies in a German University, you are obliged to demonstrate that you have enough money at your disposal to financially support yourself throughout the academic year.

The VAT number in Germany is used to identify you when making payments to the VAT department in Germany (Finanzamt). The VAT number is referred to with different names, but they all mean the same: Umsatzsteuernummer, Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer or USt-IdNr.

Employment specialists Glassdoor have recently complied a list of German companies who offer the highest median salaries to their employees. The recruitment website found that, taking into account all additional bonuses and salaried elements alongside basic pay, consultancy firm Roland Berger and industrial group Siemens offered the largest median incomes at an impressive €80,720 annually.

Once you have settled in Germany with your temporary residence permit, and want to stay permanently, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. This permanent residence permit is also referred to as a settlement permit.The settlement permit has several benefits, such as the right to live in Germany together with your family, obtain employment or become self-employed.