By September 30, 2026, the State Tax Service of Ukraine (DPS) and the Federal Central Tax Office of Germany (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern — BZSt) conclude another annual round of automatic exchange of financial account information under the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS).
The procedure is implemented in accordance with the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (CRS MCAA), Law of Ukraine No. 2970-IX, and the German Financial Accounts Information Exchange Act (Finanzkonten-Informationsaustauschgesetz — FKaustG). Under this framework, financial institutions transmit aggregated reports for the preceding calendar period, ensuring transparency of cross-border financial assets for fiscal authorities in both jurisdictions.
- Key deadline: September 30, 2026 — statutory cut-off date for transmitting aggregated banking datasets between tax authorities of participating countries.
- Reported data: Account holder name, address, date of birth, Tax Identification Number (TIN / Steuer-ID), account number (IBAN), year-end account balance as of December 31, and gross passive income (interest, dividends).
- Tax secrecy protections: Information is transmitted strictly to tax authorities (Finanzamt / DPS) under statutory tax secrecy (§ 30 AO) and is not automatically shared with social welfare agencies.
- Compliance obligations: The duty to declare foreign-sourced income in Germany and to adhere to protected asset limits (Schonvermögen) for recipients of basic citizen’s income (Bürgergeld — § 12 SGB II).
Who Is and Is Not Affected by the Financial Account Exchange
Automatic data exchange operates on established criteria of tax residency and financial account parameters:
- Who is covered: Individuals recognized as tax residents in Germany (habitual residence, physical presence exceeding 183 days per year, or center of vital interests in Germany) holding active accounts or deposits in Ukrainian financial institutions, as well as Ukrainian tax residents holding assets in German banks.
- Who is not affected: Holders of accounts closed prior to the reporting period, and individuals whose tax residency is officially located exclusively in the country where the financial institution operates.
If you receive basic Bürgergeld benefits (Jobcenter)
Recipients of unemployment benefits must comply with § 60 of the First Book of the German Social Code (§ 60 SGB I) regarding full disclosure of income and assets. German social law provides statutory protection for certain asset allowances (Schonvermögen pursuant to § 12 SGB II):
- During the initial year of benefit receipt (Karenzzeit): up to €40,000 for the principal applicant plus €15,000 for each additional person in the household (Bedarfsgemeinschaft).
- Following the grace period (after the Karenzzeit): standard protected asset limits are €15,000 per person in the benefit unit.
Holding an account with an overseas bank does not per se constitute a violation. Inquiries arise when account balances exceed the applicable Schonvermögen threshold or if undeclared regular inflows (such as remote work earnings or rental income) are received into the account.
If you are employed or self-employed in Germany
Individuals residing and working in Germany are subject to unlimited tax liability (unbeschränkte Steuerpflicht), requiring the declaration of worldwide income (Welteinkommen). Earnings from foreign bank deposits, dividends, or capital gains must be reported in the annual tax return (Einkommensteuererklärung).
Structure of Exchanged Data: What Authorities Receive
The CRS exchange follows standardized guidelines established by the OECD. Banks do not provide line-item transaction ledgers or point-of-sale purchase records; instead, they generate a fiscal summary card:
| Data Parameter | Exchanged Under CRS | Statutory Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Account holder identity | Yes (Full name, address, date of birth, Steuer-ID / TIN) | § 8 FKaustG / CRS MCAA |
| Account details | Yes (Account number IBAN, bank name) | § 8 FKaustG / CRS MCAA |
| Year-end balance | Yes (Account balance as of December 31) | § 8 FKaustG / CRS MCAA |
| Passive income | Yes (Interest, dividends, capital gains) | § 8 FKaustG / CRS MCAA |
| Itemized transactions/receipts | No (Granular statements and purchase histories are not transmitted) | OECD Reporting Standard |
* In accordance with OECD Common Reporting Standard guidelines and § 8 FKaustG. Financial institutions report year-end balances as of December 31 and gross passive yields; itemized transaction histories and payment descriptions are not exchanged under CRS.
For further information on navigating the German banking and tax framework, consult Nodia’s guides: How to Open a Bank Account in Germany and Tax Identification Number (Steuer-ID) in Germany.
Data Processing Workflow and Inter-Agency Inquiries
Information received by the BZSt is safeguarded under statutory tax secrecy (Steuergeheimnis nach § 30 AO). Data workflows proceed through established administrative channels:
- BZSt processing: The Federal Central Tax Office matches inbound data with domestic taxpayer identification numbers (Steuer-ID).
- Transfer to local Finanzamt: Data sets are routed to the local tax office corresponding to the taxpayer’s residence to compare against filed tax returns.
- Inter-agency verification: Social security authorities (Jobcenter / Sozialamt) do not have direct automated access to CRS databases. However, within regular statutory data verification procedures (Datenabgleich nach § 52 SGB II) or upon concrete discrepancies, welfare offices may require benefit recipients to provide verified statements for all open accounts.
If you maintain savings in accounts outside Germany, ensure total holdings remain within applicable Schonvermögen ceilings and accurately report balances in the asset declaration annex (Anlage VM). Full transparency prevents retrospective claim recalculations (Rückforderung) and administrative penalties.
Sources of Information
- Gesetze im Internet: Finanzkonten-Informationsaustauschgesetz (FKaustG) § 1 Anwendungsbereich
- Gesetze im Internet: Gesetz über den automatischen Austausch von Informationen über Finanzkonten in Steuersachen
- Gesetze im Internet: Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Zweites Buch (II) § 12 Zu berücksichtigendes Vermögen
- Gesetze im Internet: Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) Erstes Buch (I) § 60 Angabe von Tatsachen
- Верховна Рада України: Закон № 2970-IX про імплементацію міжнародного стандарту автоматичного обміну інформацією (CRS)
- Bundeszentralamt für Steuern (BZSt): Internationaler automatischer Informationsaustausch