My Return to France – Leaving Germany
What Administrative Steps before Leaving Germany?
Before your departure, you must complete the deregistration (“Abmeldung”) at the town hall, cancel contracts (housing, insurance, energy, telecoms), and inform your Finanzamt (tax office).
This formalizes your tax departure and prevents you from being wrongly taxed the following year.
Do I Have to Continue Paying Taxes in Germany after My Departure?
Generally, no, provided you have ceased all activity or sources of income in Germany.
However, if you retain real estate, an activity, or a German pension, you remain partially taxable. A final tax declaration (“Steuererklärung”) is often necessary.
What Happens to My German Pension (Deutsche Rentenversicherung)?
Your entitlements remain vested. You will be able to claim them from France thanks to European pension coordination. No need to start over: German quarters are taken into account when calculating your French pension.
What about my private pension contracts (Riester, Basis, bAV, etc.)?
Some contracts can be frozen, closed, or transferred depending on your future tax status.
👉 For example, our firm has obtained recognition of the tax-exempt nature of the Basis pension in France, allowing our clients to continue benefiting from it after their return.
As each situation is different, a personalized analysis is essential before your departure to preserve your tax advantages.
What to Do with My German Health Insurance?
You must cancel your Krankenkasse as soon as you leave the country, but never leave without coverage:
- Take out transitional insurance,
- Or return to the French system (CPAM) upon your arrival.
Reaffiliation periods can be long.
Should I Inform My Insurers (Civil Liability, Incapacity, etc.)?
Yes. Some contracts lose their validity outside Germany, especially housing or civil liability insurance. Others can be converted into international coverage or transferred to France.
How to manage my German investments (life insurance, ETFs, gold, etc.)?
Some German products become fiscally disadvantageous once you are a French resident. Depending on the type of contract, it may be preferable to close or transfer them before departure to avoid double taxation.
Can I Keep My German Bank Account?
Yes, but banks often require a European address. Keep it if you still have income, real estate, or a German pension; otherwise, close it after transferring your funds.
How to Avoid Double Taxation between France and Germany?
The Franco-German tax treaty allocates taxation rights. If in doubt, a cross-analysis of your global income (employment income, investments, pension) allows you to anticipate the correct scenario.
Why Seek Assistance to Prepare for your Departure?
A poorly anticipated departure can lead to:
- Loss of subsidies,
- Unexpected taxes,
- Gaps in health coverage.
At Faller Finance, we help you structure your return smoothly, from a tax and insurance perspective.