The Wohnsitzfinanzämter (local tax offices of residence) were an important instrument used to monitor Berlin’s Jewish population and plunder them through tax laws. Based on the Verordnung über die Anmeldung des Vermögens von Juden (Decree on the Registration of Jewish Property) dated 26 April 1938, the offices were informed in detail about the financial circumstances of those being persecuted. They were also responsible for collecting compulsory levies such as the Reichsfluchtsteuer(Reich flight tax) Introduced in 1931, it was intended to prevent capital flight abroad. More and the Judenvermögensabgabe(Jewish property levy) A compulsory levy introduced for Jews after the November pogroms. More.

Many Jews had to sell parts of their property even before deportationForced removal of people by state authorities from their place of residence or origin to another state territory or to remote regions where they are detained. More or emigration in order to pay these levies. Until 1939, the tax offices also issued Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigungen(certificate of clearance) Certificate issued by Nazi tax offices confirming payment of tax arrears and compulsory levies for Jewish people. More, which had to be presented in order to obtain permission to emigrate.

The Finanzamt Moabit-West and the Vermögensverwertungsstelle repeatedly used the information collected by the tax offices on the property of the persecuted to track down assets.