Available on the FTA's website (www.estv.admin.ch), the application can be used for refund requests submitted from Germany for income with due dates on or after 1 January 2020. It replaces Form 85, which will remain valid only for refund requests concerning income with due dates up to 31 December 2019.

The application reduces the sources of error during submission and accelerates the refund process. It can also be used by fiduciaries and banks authorised to do so. After a one-off registration process, the refund request can be entered electronically and attachments uploaded directly.

For legal reasons, it will still be necessary to print out the request and have it signed by the competent German tax office. The signed request must be sent to the FTA by post.

Requests entered via the online application are not considered to have been submitted until the printed request has been duly signed and received by the FTA in due time.

Online withholding tax refund requests for Germany