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German limitation period — when does your claim become time-barred?

The standard limitation period is three years and starts at the end of the year in which the claim arose and you knew the debtor and the facts. Regardless of knowledge, the claim is barred ten years after it arose at the latest; a claim established by final judgment only after 30 years.

2026 rules — verified on September 23, 2026Free, no account

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Sources and assumptions

  • gesetze-im-internet.de — BGB § 195 — tax year 2026, verified on September 23, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « Die regelmäßige Verjährungsfrist beträgt drei Jahre. »
  • gesetze-im-internet.de — BGB § 199 Abs. 4 — tax year 2026, verified on September 23, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « Andere Ansprüche als die nach den Absätzen 2 bis 3a verjähren ohne Rücksicht auf die Kenntnis oder grob fahrlässige Unkenntnis in zehn Jahren von ihrer Entstehung an. »
  • gesetze-im-internet.de — BGB § 197 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 — tax year 2026, verified on September 23, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « In 30 Jahren verjähren, soweit nicht ein anderes bestimmt ist »

Calculation assumptions

  • This covers contractual claims (purchase price, contractor's fee, professional fees). Damages claims have their own longstop periods (BGB s. 199(2), (3) and (3a)) and are not covered.
  • Suspension and restart of limitation (BGB ss. 203 to 213: negotiations, legal action, payment order, acknowledgment) are not taken into account; they move the end date.
  • You enter the year of knowledge: what counts is when you knew, or but for gross negligence would have known, the facts giving rise to the claim and who the debtor is.
  • For a title, the claim is assumed to have already arisen when the judgment became final (BGB s. 201) and not to concern recurring payments falling due in future (BGB s. 197(2)).

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This result is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised tax advice. Check your situation with the tax authorities or a professional.