[mrks_hy]

Sorry to "but actually" you, but that is just because you did not claim the treaty benefits. Pedantic, it is also 26%, not 30%.

You should be able to get 15% tax on dividends, which also count towards your US taxes which you stil have to pay.

It is also exactly the same for foreign investors from Germany investing in US companies. We have to file a W-8BEN, otherwise the US takes 30% on dividends and even on capital gains!

[noduerme]

Is that true if it's in a Roth?

[mrks_hy]

Not from US, so can't comment on what it does for tax credit, but the treaty benefits should still apply.

Also, you should've mentioned that in your OP. Why would a foreign country's tax system care about another country's tax-advantaged investing account?

The tax withholding is seperate from any home countrystax obligations, if that helps to understand it. There are treaties to avoid double taxation that then allow claiming these unavoidable taxes at your tax residency. If you don't pay taxes there, usually you're out of luck.