Last updated 2026-06-27
Tax Reclaim vs Broker relief-at-source
Broker relief-at-source is a broker / custodian process: Getting the reduced treaty rate applied at source through your broker or custodian (e.g. Interactive Brokers, Clearstream), using tax certification rather than a separate reclaim. Tax Reclaim is a flat €29/year self-serve alternative that generates filing-ready reclaim forms across 33 countries and lets you keep 100% of your refund — compared here honestly, including where Broker relief-at-source is the better fit.
At a glance
| Tax Reclaim | Broker relief-at-source | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Flat €29/year (free calculator tier) | Free / bundled into custody (no separate consumer fee) |
| You keep 100% of the refund | Yes — flat fee, no percentage | Yes (no separate fee) |
| Country / form coverage | 33 countries, 40+ forms (incl. 11 Eastern-European) | Market-by-market (relief-at-source documented per market by custodians) |
| Interest income, not just dividends | Yes | Dividends + interest |
| Retail self-serve | Yes | Managed service |
| No broker credentials / portfolio linking | Yes — you enter figures manually | N/A (works via custodian) |
Where Broker relief-at-source is strong
- Cheapest path when it works — the reduced rate is applied automatically, no filing
- No third-party data sharing; it's your existing broker
- Covers both dividends and interest
Where Tax Reclaim wins
- Many brokers (incl. Interactive Brokers) do NOT auto-reclaim excess tax — they tell you to file with the tax authority yourself
- Only reduces the rate going forward; historical over-withholding still needs a manual reclaim
- Relief-at-source is often unavailable to retail investors
Who each is for
Choose Broker relief-at-source if: Getting the correct treaty rate applied prospectively via the broker.
Choose Tax Reclaim if: Tax Reclaim fills exactly the gap brokers leave — it generates the actual reclaim forms (Form 5001, Model 210, RF-1534, Form 70…) for the historical excess tax your broker tells you to 'consult an advisor' about.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Broker relief-at-source?
For retail investors reclaiming foreign dividend or interest withholding tax, Tax Reclaim is a flat €29/year alternative to Broker relief-at-source: it generates the filing-ready treaty forms yourself so you keep 100% of the refund. Broker relief-at-source remains a strong choice getting the correct treaty rate applied prospectively via the broker.
How does Tax Reclaim pricing compare to Broker relief-at-source?
Tax Reclaim is flat €29/year (free calculator tier). Broker relief-at-source: Free / bundled into custody (no separate consumer fee) (this figure is not publicly published, as of 2026-07-06).
Who is Broker relief-at-source best for?
Getting the correct treaty rate applied prospectively via the broker. It is less ideal for recovering past over-withheld tax the broker won't reclaim for you.
Competitor details researched 2026-07-06 from: Interactive Brokers — Tax Treaties, Clearstream — market coverage. Pricing and features change — verify with the provider before deciding.
See what you can reclaim — free
Tax Reclaim works out exactly how much foreign withholding tax you can recover and generates the filing-ready form. Flat €29/year, no percentage of your refund.
Calculate my reclaim