hTTi

Hello

I am a dinosaur with technology so please be patient with me. Using a forum is new for me. I dont have Facebook, Whatsapp or Instagram.

I am retired from the UK in Germany. Moved here pre-Brexit. Basic UK state pension, couple of small annuities and cheap platform SIPPs.

I was with the Lohnsteuerringverein. However, they dumped me recently when I queried something on my draft 2023 German tax return, saying they didnt have expertise as regards the UK stuff.

I have contacted several firms, both sole practitioners and large firms. So far the responses have either been - "too busy" or no reply at all. My 2023 return is, I suspect 90 per cent ready, but I dont know to whom to turn.

Anyone know anyone who has (a) the relevant expertise as regards SIPPs and fund ISAs, (b) can speak and understand English, and (c) has the time to take on a new client?

Thanks

When one leaves their location blank and has a question involving experts in their area..... difficult to offer proper assistance.

Regardless, look online. I have a tax advisor in the small town I live in found on Facebook and she is good. Aye, it helps that her partner has a Kanzlei in Munich. Also, the website "Frag-einen" might also be a place to find a tax advisor near you.

Hmmm. Yep. As I said, I am not very good at this. Now updated my Profile. Thanks.

I have been trying names etc on a search engine with the following link:

https://www.datev.de/kasus/First/Start? ... e=&submit=

However, the results so far have been either "too busy" or no response. That is why I am trying this forum out of desperation.

Maybe you simply have not yet tried to contact enough of them...?
Have a look here: https://www.steuerberater.de/

Hi Peric, and welcome to Toytown!
Well done for even getting as far as to post a question if you are that new to this sort of thing!

How good is your German?
Do you specifically need a Steuerberater/in who speaks English, or just one who knows about English pensions and other issues?

Since Covid, I believe some Steuerberater/ins also offer advice through Skype, etc, so you don´t really have to limit your search for a good one to the Bonn area.

I know one really good Steuerberaterin is active on here, and whilst I doubt she has time to help you right now, it wouldn´t surprise me if she could recommend somebody, or give you some tips as to how best to proceed.

Let us know how you get on!

Thank you for the nice words.

I can do everyday German. For tax and legal documents etc, I use Deepl and Google Translate.

When I moved to Germany in 2019 I gave numerous explanations to different people about the workings of British Self Invested Personal Pension Plans etc. Unfortunately, the personnel kept changing and I had to keep checking what each new person was doing. Sometimes, I discovered mistakes arising out of pure carelessness. I felt a burden taken off my shoulders when I was accepted by the Lohnsteuerhilfeverein. However, I have now discovered that it was a false sense of security.

My health is deteriorating. I am of the generation, which used a slide rule and tables at school. No such thing as calculators then. I have been a hospital in-patient twice this year and had numerous weeks in Reha. My standing joke is that “mein TüV ist abgelaufen”. I am awaiting my “Schwerbehindertenausweis”.

I am supposed to avoid stress. However, this recent development is now keeping me awake at night. I don’t have the mental energy I used to have. I need someone, who understands the relevant concepts and can just deal with the relevant documents, which are all in English.

I have been given personal recommendations. However, as I stated in my original post, I have been met with either “too busy” or not even the courtesy of a reply. I suspect the latter is because it is recognised that I am neither a “middle sized company” nor Bill Gates.

I am due to visit another type of specialist doctor today as regards another proposed course of treatment for yet another issue so please forgive me if I do not update on a regular basis. My mind is somewhat pre-occupied on a number of fronts!