Germany plans access to dormant bank accounts and new crypto taxes

The German government is planning to access dormant bank accounts to fund social projects. According to a report, the proposal within the coalition agreement involves accounts that have seen no activity for ten years, or three years in the event of the owner's death. An assessment by the Federal Ministry of Research suggests the volume of these unclaimed funds could reach up to 4.2 billion euros.

In a separate fiscal move, the Federal Ministry of Finance is drafting new taxation rules for cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Under the draft, these assets would be treated as capital assets subject to a 25 percent capital gains tax. While practical tax deductions by service providers are slated for 2028, the proposal includes grandfathering protections for assets acquired before 2027.