People in the News - Siegfried Merten, MFA Achieves International Recognition

We salute the outstanding achievements of Siegfried Merten, Master Financial Advisor (MFA), who has been recognized internationally for his work in the avoidance of double taxation for retired Canadians.

Siggi is experienced tax specialist in the area of cross-border taxation for Canadians with retirement pensions in Germany, and an expert on the German Pension taxation system.  In 2008, Siggi earned the Designation of Master Financial Advisor from the Knowledge Bureau.

Siggi’s practice has grown significantly since 2010,  when letters from the German tax department - Finanzamt Neubrandenburg - started arriving in Canada.  They were asking for tax payments for the years 2005 - 2009 from German pension recipients living in Canada, to the great concern, and considerable stress, for these clients. One of the big issues was understanding the complicated requests – all in German.

In Canada, taxes paid to a foreign country with whom we have a tax treaty can be used to offset Canadian taxes. However, CRA was not taking the German taxes paid into account. Siggi was instrumental in reversing this trend. He took it upon himself to arrange meetings in Germany at the Finanzamt Neubrandenburg with the Department Directors of the Tax Return Processing, Tax Administration and the Head Cashier for the Canada Section. As a result, they were able to work out a 3-language detailed Confirmation Tax Summary letter to simplify Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) verifications to the CRA.

Now they also have worked out a 3-language Clearance Certificate similar to the Canadian Version for Executors, Heirs, and the survivors.

Siggi is now also Registered by the Finanzamt Neubrandenburg as a Foreign Tax Consultant and was Certified to use the German National Elster-Online E-file System.

In 2013 Siggi was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award in recognition of his work and dedication to the German Community.  He has also been a presenting instructor with Knowledge Bureau at the CE Summits in Toronto and a contributor to Knowledge Bureau Report.

We congratulate Siggi on his outstanding achievements in the tax profession.  He has truly earned his credentials as a Master Financial Advisor, saving his clients thousands of dollars; most importantly, however, providing peace of mind for a stressful tax scenario he has been able to take care of for them.

Siggi can be reached as follows to provide assistance to professionals and their clients in the area of German-Canadian tax matters:
German Tax Services
Siegfried Merten, MFA
Merten Financial Inc.

217 Scott St. Suite 6
St. Catharines, Ont., L2N 1H5
905-708-5889
www.mertenfinancial.ca

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