Hello guys,

I'm moving next year to Germany and I would like to know more about the taxes for online poker. On the internet I find differents informations but no clear answer.
I'm a professional poker player so what should I expect to pay there?

More, does anybody know if it's possible to play on Ps.eu and Winamax.fr from Germany?

Thank you for your answers,
Have a great day,

Nissa

There is no clear answer because of a few constraints. For starters, online poker is illegal in Germany. So far, it is not prosecuted much. There have been cases where banks have refused payouts though. Regarding taxes, under German law you have to pay taxes on all your earnings, legal or not. Which in practice because of its legal status nobody ever does. Theoretically you'd have to pay income taxes with a rate according to your earnings plus retirement and social security funds and health insurance (also depending on your earnings) total would be 20 to 50% with the latter starting at around 50k euros a year (before taxes). Which is another reason everybody just hides from the law. You would be able to deduce some expenses theoretically, like for your work place, maybe even software and stuff, this will be complex to file too. Bascially you'd need to get an accountant. Which is a problem if you have an illegal occupation

Thank you for your answer FWWM,

Ok, so this is why the situation is not clear.
So, as a foreigner (french), when I will move to Germany, your advice would be not to declare anything to german taxes authorities? Just closing my eyes and hope for the best? Doing that, it is possible to open a german bank account or rent a flat for example as we would be considered as ununployed?

And if all the poker pro are not paying taxes in Germany, what is their status? Ununployed? Looking for a job?

That is one way to go. Bank account, they won't like it but will probably give you one, or you could just use your old bank. Rental: More difficult, especially for better areas they would usually like to see some proof of income. Maybe they will go with some proof of funds. Or you could e.g. register as a student, this will make you more acceptable in that matter (nobody likes to rent to an unemployed). Or take on some other BS job, just temporarily

As for German poker pros. Live pros, different situation that is not illegal per se. There are surely some online pros still that live under the radar., my guess would be, most of them their official status is having some kind of other job. The better ones have pretty much all moved elsewhere e.g. Austria for tax reasons (although it is also not straightforward either with legality nor with taxes there, but seems to be more favorable

I will move in with my girlfriend who has great income so i guess it's ok to rent a flat (and i can provide some proof of funds).

About what you said, the main issue i can think of is that if i'am declaring nothing taxwise to the german authorities, i may be still considered french resident, even if i live in Germany most of the year.
More, let's say i move back to France in 3 years, and given the fact that my income are transiting to my french bank account (it's mandatory) as i play mostly on PS.eu and winamax.fr, i doubt the french taxes authorities will let me in peace with my earnings...

I'll ask my financial advisor but given the fact that the situation is not really clear in Germany, it should bring a lot of issues back to France.

Thank you for answers I appreciate.