{"id":1603,"date":"2026-10-09T15:20:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/?p=1603"},"modified":"2026-10-09T15:21:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:21:53","slug":"tax-and-legal-advice-under-one-roof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/steuerberatung-und-rechtsberatung-aus-einer-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax and legal advice from a sin\u00adgle source"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:300\">Tax and legal advice from a sin\u00adgle source: whe\u00adre law and tax go hand in&nbsp;hand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A typi\u00adcal pro\u00adcess in many com\u00adpa\u00adnies: a soli\u00adci\u00adtor drafts the artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon, whilst the tax advi\u00adser hand\u00adles the book\u00adkee\u00adping and tax returns. Both car\u00adry out their work meti\u00adcu\u00adlous\u00adly. Nevert\u00adhel\u00adess, money can be lost pre\u00adcis\u00ade\u00adly whe\u00adre their are\u00adas of respon\u00adsi\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty over\u00adlap. The tax advi\u00adser often does not see the con\u00adtract until it has been signed. The soli\u00adci\u00adtor is fre\u00adquent\u00adly una\u00adwa\u00adre of the company\u2019s figu\u00adres in detail and can\u00adnot always assess the tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons of a par\u00adti\u00adcu\u00adlar clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons rare\u00adly only ari\u00adse when fil\u00ading a tax return. In most cases, they are deter\u00admi\u00adned as soon as a con\u00adtract is con\u00adcluded, a com\u00adpa\u00adny is incor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adted or a busi\u00adness is res\u00adtruc\u00adtu\u00adred. Using examp\u00adles, we show whe\u00adre legal struc\u00adtu\u00adring deter\u00admi\u00adnes the tax lia\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty, what \u2018one-stop advice\u2019 means in prac\u00adti\u00adce, and whe\u00adre its limits lie. Anyo\u00adne wis\u00adhing to know what a tax advi\u00adser and a spe\u00adcia\u00adlist soli\u00adci\u00adtor in tax law are respec\u00adtively per\u00admit\u00adted to do will find this infor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon in our artic\u00adle <a href=\"\/en\/steuerberater-oder-fachanwalt-fuer-steuerrecht\/\">Tax advi\u00adser or spe\u00adcia\u00adlist soli\u00adci\u00adtor in tax law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The problem lies at the interface<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tax law is lin\u00adked to cir\u00adcum\u00ads\u00adtances that have alre\u00ada\u00addy been legal\u00adly estab\u00adlished: con\u00adtracts, share\u00adhol\u00adders\u2019 reso\u00adlu\u00adti\u00adons, purcha\u00adse pri\u00adces and sala\u00adry agree\u00adments. Once the\u00adse have been laid down and imple\u00admen\u00adted, it is vir\u00adtual\u00adly impos\u00adsi\u00adble to amend them for tax pur\u00adpo\u00adses. As a gene\u00adral rule, the tax aut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adties do not reco\u00adg\u00adni\u00adse agree\u00adments inten\u00added to have retro\u00ads\u00adpec\u00adti\u00adve effect, apart from excep\u00adti\u00adons pro\u00advi\u00added for by law, such as in the case of com\u00adpa\u00adny con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adons. The tax advi\u00adser can then only explain what has hap\u00adpen\u00aded; he can no lon\u00adger influence the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simp\u00adle exam\u00adp\u00adle illus\u00adtra\u00adtes just how quick\u00adly this can hap\u00adpen: two busi\u00adness owners agree on a pri\u00adce of 50,000 euros wit\u00adhout making any arran\u00adge\u00adments regar\u00adding VAT. Accor\u00adding to estab\u00adlished case law, VAT is then dee\u00admed to be included in the pri\u00adce in cases of doubt. The sel\u00adler must pay around 8,000 euros in VAT and is left with a net sum of around 42,000 euros ins\u00adtead of the expec\u00adted 50,000 euros. Legal\u00adly, the con\u00adtract is valid; eco\u00adno\u00admic\u00adal\u00adly, howe\u00adver, the sel\u00adler is short of around 8,000&nbsp;euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incorporation and legal form: deciding on liability and tax together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The choice of legal form is a legal decis\u00adi\u00adon with signi\u00adfi\u00adcant tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons. In the case of sole trad\u00aders and part\u00adner\u00adships, pro\u00adfits are taxed at the owners\u2019 and part\u00adners\u2019 per\u00adso\u00adnal inco\u00adme tax rates. Trade tax, which is paya\u00adble by com\u00admer\u00adcial enter\u00adpri\u00adses, is lar\u00adge\u00adly off\u00adset against inco\u00adme tax (Sec\u00adtion 35 of the Inco\u00adme Tax Act (EStG)). In the case of a limi\u00adt\u00aded lia\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty com\u00adpa\u00adny (GmbH), the com\u00adpa\u00adny initi\u00adal\u00adly pays cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon tax and trade tax; the share\u00adhol\u00adders are only taxed on the divi\u00addends they recei\u00adve. Which form is more favoura\u00adble depends, among\u00adst other things, on how much pro\u00adfit is to be retai\u00adned within the com\u00adpa\u00adny and how high the share\u00adhol\u00adders\u2019 other inco\u00adme is. Gene\u00adral part\u00adner\u00adships, pro\u00adfes\u00adsio\u00adnal part\u00adner\u00adships and regis\u00adtered civil-law part\u00adner\u00adships (GbR) may, upon appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon, even be taxed as a cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon (Sec\u00adtion 1a of the Cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act (KStG)).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legal form alo\u00adne is not enough. The artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon set out the rules gover\u00adning pro\u00adfit dis\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adon, with\u00addra\u00adwals, sever\u00adance pay\u00adments and suc\u00adces\u00adsi\u00adon. Each of the\u00adse clau\u00adses has tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons. This is par\u00adti\u00adcu\u00adlar\u00adly evi\u00addent in the case of a share\u00adhol\u00adder-mana\u00adging direc\u00adtor of a&nbsp;GmbH:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sala\u00adry and bonus:<\/strong> If the remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon is unre\u00adason\u00adab\u00adly high, the tax office tre\u00adats the excess amount as a hid\u00adden dis\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adon of pro\u00adfits (Sec\u00adtion 8(3) of the Cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act). It does not then redu\u00adce the GmbH\u2019s inco\u00adme and is taxed as invest\u00adment inco\u00adme in the hands of the shareholder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For\u00admal requi\u00adre\u00adments:<\/strong> In the case of a con\u00adtrol\u00adling share\u00adhol\u00adder, the remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon must also be cle\u00adar\u00adly and valid\u00adly agreed in advan\u00adce and actual\u00adly paid in that man\u00adner. The tax office will not reco\u00adg\u00adni\u00adse a pay rise that is only deci\u00added upon retro\u00ads\u00adpec\u00adtively at the end of the year for the pre\u00adce\u00adding months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social secu\u00adri\u00adty:<\/strong> Accor\u00adding to the case law of the Fede\u00adral Social Court, a share\u00adhol\u00adder-mana\u00adging direc\u00adtor is, as a rule, only exempt from social secu\u00adri\u00adty con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adons if he holds at least half of the share capi\u00adtal or if the artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon grant him a com\u00adpre\u00adhen\u00adsi\u00adve blo\u00adcking mino\u00adri\u00adty, enab\u00adling him to pre\u00advent ins\u00adtruc\u00adtions with which he does not agree. Agree\u00adments out\u00adside the artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon are not suf\u00adfi\u00adci\u00adent. Legal cer\u00adtain\u00adty is pro\u00advi\u00added by a sta\u00adtus deter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon pro\u00adce\u00addu\u00adre with the Ger\u00adman Pen\u00adsi\u00adon Insu\u00adrance Sche\u00adme (Sec\u00adtion 7a of Book IV of the Social Code).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon, the mana\u00adging director\u2019s con\u00adtract and tax mat\u00adters should the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre all be dis\u00adcus\u00adsed tog\u00ade\u00adther. Find out more on our page about <a href=\"\/en\/handels-gesellschaftsrecht-flensburg\/\">Com\u00admer\u00adcial and Com\u00adpa\u00adny Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Restructuring: Law on corporate conversions and tax law relating to corporate conversions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyo\u00adne who trans\u00adfers a sole trader busi\u00adness into a limi\u00adt\u00aded lia\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty com\u00adpa\u00adny (GmbH), mer\u00adges com\u00adpa\u00adnies or spins off part of a busi\u00adness is sub\u00adject to two pie\u00adces of legis\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon at the same time. The Trans\u00adfor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon Act governs the legal pro\u00adcess of the res\u00adtruc\u00adtu\u00adring. The Trans\u00adfor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act deter\u00admi\u00adnes whe\u00adther hid\u00adden reser\u00adves are sub\u00adject to tax in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many cases, a con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adon can be car\u00adri\u00aded out on a tax-neu\u00adtral basis at book value, but only upon appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon and sub\u00adject to con\u00addi\u00adti\u00adons that must alre\u00ada\u00addy be met at the legal plan\u00adning&nbsp;stage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Full tran\u00adscript:<\/strong> When a busi\u00adness is con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adted, all essen\u00adti\u00adal assets of the busi\u00adness must, as a gene\u00adral rule, be trans\u00adfer\u00adred as well. If, for exam\u00adp\u00adle, the busi\u00adness pre\u00admi\u00adses are left behind, the car\u00adry\u00ading amount is at&nbsp;risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Retroac\u00adti\u00adve effect:<\/strong> For tax pur\u00adpo\u00adses, con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adons may be back\u00adda\u00adted by up to eight months (Sec\u00adtion 2 of the Ger\u00adman Con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adon Tax Act (UmwStG), Sec\u00adtion 20(6) of the UmwStG). In the case of mer\u00adgers and demer\u00adgers, the clo\u00adsing balan\u00adce sheet sub\u00admit\u00adted with the appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon to the Com\u00admer\u00adcial Regis\u00adter must also be no more than eight months old (Sec\u00adtion 17(2) of the UmwG). The appoint\u00adment with the nota\u00adry, the appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon and the balan\u00adce sheet must the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre be coor\u00addi\u00adna\u00adted in terms of timing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Embar\u00adgo peri\u00adods:<\/strong> If the con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adtor sells the shares recei\u00adved in exch\u00adan\u00adge for the con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adon within seven years, the hid\u00adden reser\u00adves exis\u00adting at that time are sub\u00adject to retro\u00ads\u00adpec\u00adti\u00adve taxa\u00adti\u00adon, redu\u00adced by one-seventh for each year that has elap\u00adsed (Sec\u00adtion 22(1) of the Ger\u00adman Law on the Taxa\u00adti\u00adon of Busi\u00adness Reor\u00adga\u00adni\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adons (UmwStG)). In the case of demer\u00adgers, a sepa\u00adra\u00adte five-year peri\u00adod appli\u00ades to the sale of shares (sec\u00adtion 15(2) of the Ger\u00adman Trans\u00adfer Tax Act (UmwStG)).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Land Trans\u00adfer Tax:<\/strong> If the busi\u00adness owns land, the reor\u00adga\u00adni\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon may trig\u00adger land trans\u00adfer tax. Whe\u00adther an exemp\u00adti\u00adon appli\u00ades depends on the cho\u00adsen structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addi\u00adti\u00adon, the\u00adre are obli\u00adga\u00adti\u00adons under employ\u00adment law, such as informing employees when their employ\u00adment con\u00adtracts are trans\u00adfer\u00adred. Find out more on our page on <a href=\"\/en\/leistung-umwandlungsrecht\/\">Right of con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contracts with VAT implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to VAT, the absence of a con\u00adtrac\u00adtu\u00adal clau\u00adse can cost you money very quick\u00adly. Here are two real-life examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Commercial tenancy: the VAT option<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The let\u00adting of com\u00admer\u00adcial pre\u00admi\u00adses is, in prin\u00adci\u00adple, exempt from VAT. Howe\u00adver, if the owner lets the pre\u00admi\u00adses to ano\u00adther busi\u00adness owner for use in that busi\u00adness, they may opt to be sub\u00adject to VAT (Sec\u00adtion 9 of the Ger\u00adman VAT Act (UStG)). This is par\u00adti\u00adcu\u00adlar\u00adly wort\u00adhwhile if they wish to deduct input VAT ari\u00adsing from the con\u00ads\u00adtruc\u00adtion, purcha\u00adse or main\u00adten\u00adan\u00adce of the pro\u00adper\u00adty. For most buil\u00addings, this opti\u00adon is only per\u00admit\u00adted if the ten\u00adant uses the pre\u00admi\u00adses exclu\u00adsi\u00adve\u00adly for tran\u00adsac\u00adtions that do not pre\u00adclude the deduc\u00adtion of input VAT (Sec\u00adtion 9(2) of the Ger\u00adman Value Added Tax Act). The tax aut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adties allow a de mini\u00admis thres\u00adhold of five per cent in this regard. This is not usual\u00adly the case for a doctor\u2019s sur\u00adgery or an insu\u00adrance broker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If such a ten\u00adant moves in at a later date, or if the cur\u00adrent ten\u00adant chan\u00adges the natu\u00adre of their busi\u00adness, the land\u00adlord may lose part of their input tax. For buil\u00addings, the input tax deduc\u00adtion is tra\u00adcked over a peri\u00adod of ten years (Sec\u00adtion 15a of the Ger\u00adman Value Added Tax Act (UStG)). The ten\u00adan\u00adcy agree\u00adment should the\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre sti\u00adpu\u00adla\u00adte three things: that the rent is paya\u00adble plus VAT, the pur\u00adpo\u00adses for which the ten\u00adant is per\u00admit\u00adted to use the pre\u00admi\u00adses, and that the ten\u00adant must noti\u00adfy the land\u00adlord of any chan\u00adge in their busi\u00adness acti\u00advi\u00adties and com\u00adpen\u00adsa\u00adte the land\u00adlord for any resul\u00adting loss. Find out more on our page about <a href=\"\/en\/leistung-gewerbliches-privates-mietrecht\/\">Ten\u00adan\u00adcy law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sale of a business: Sale of the business as a&nbsp;whole<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a com\u00adpa\u00adny or a sepa\u00adra\u00adte\u00adly mana\u00adged busi\u00adness is sold in its enti\u00adre\u00adty to an entre\u00adpre\u00adneur who con\u00adti\u00adnues to run it, no VAT is paya\u00adble (Sec\u00adtion 1(1a) of the Ger\u00adman VAT Act (UStG)). If the sel\u00adler nevert\u00adhel\u00adess char\u00adges VAT, they are lia\u00adble for it under Sec\u00adtion 14c of the Ger\u00adman VAT Act (UStG), and the buy\u00ader can\u00adnot deduct it as input tax. Con\u00adver\u00adse\u00adly, VAT beco\u00admes paya\u00adble if the con\u00addi\u00adti\u00adons for a busi\u00adness trans\u00adfer are not met after all and nobo\u00addy had anti\u00adci\u00adpa\u00adted this. A con\u00adtract of sale should spe\u00adci\u00adfy, for both sce\u00adna\u00adri\u00ados, who bears the tax and how any sub\u00adse\u00adquent cor\u00adrec\u00adtions are to be&nbsp;made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the <a href=\"\/en\/allgemeines-zivilrecht\/\">gene\u00adral civil law<\/a> The same appli\u00ades to any major con\u00adtract: whe\u00adther a pri\u00adce is meant to be net or gross must be expli\u00adcit\u00adly sta\u00adted in the&nbsp;text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When a tax audit turns into criminal proceedings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A tax audit is, first and fore\u00admost, a tax pro\u00adce\u00addu\u00adre. The busi\u00adness owner must coope\u00adra\u00adte, pro\u00advi\u00adde docu\u00admen\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon and ans\u00adwer ques\u00adti\u00adons. If, during the audit, sus\u00adpi\u00adci\u00adon ari\u00adses of a tax offence, the situa\u00adti\u00adon chan\u00adges fun\u00adda\u00admen\u00adtal\u00adly. The audi\u00adtor must noti\u00adfy the depart\u00adment respon\u00adsi\u00adble for admi\u00adnis\u00adtra\u00adti\u00adve fines and cri\u00admi\u00adnal mat\u00adters and may only con\u00adti\u00adnue the inves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adti\u00adon with the busi\u00adness owner regar\u00adding the\u00adse facts once they have been infor\u00admed that cri\u00admi\u00adnal pro\u00adcee\u00addings have been initia\u00adted (Sec\u00adtion 10(1) BpO, Sec\u00adtion 397 AO). From this point at the latest, coer\u00adci\u00adve mea\u00adsu\u00adres are pro\u00adhi\u00adbi\u00adted if they would requi\u00adre the busi\u00adness owner to incri\u00admi\u00adna\u00adte them\u00adsel\u00adves (Sec\u00adtion 393(1) AO). Howe\u00adver, the tax office may then esti\u00adma\u00adte the basis for taxa\u00adti\u00adon. Any infor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon the busi\u00adness owner pro\u00advi\u00addes at this stage may be used against them in cri\u00admi\u00adnal proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is par\u00adti\u00adcu\u00adlar\u00adly during this pha\u00adse that it pays off if tax argu\u00adments and cri\u00admi\u00adnal defence stra\u00adtegy are coor\u00addi\u00adna\u00adted rather than deve\u00adlo\u00adped sepa\u00adra\u00adte\u00adly by two dif\u00adfe\u00adrent law firms. An excep\u00adti\u00adon appli\u00ades if the tax returns in ques\u00adti\u00adon were pre\u00adpared by the advi\u00adsing law firm its\u00adelf: in that case, the firm may be cal\u00adled as a wit\u00adness during the pro\u00adcee\u00addings, and an inde\u00adpen\u00addent defence is usual\u00adly the bet\u00adter solu\u00adti\u00adon. You can find out more about this, inclu\u00adding vol\u00adun\u00adt\u00ada\u00adry dis\u00adclo\u00adsure, on our page at <a href=\"\/en\/steuerrecht-steuerstrafrecht\/\">Tax law and cri\u00admi\u00adnal tax law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disputes and Settlements: Civil Law Meets Accountancy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even in the case of dis\u00adpu\u00adtes and out\u00adstan\u00adding claims, every legal step has tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons. If a cla\u00adim turns out to be uncoll\u00adec\u00adti\u00adble, the VAT must be adjus\u00adted (Sec\u00adtion 17(2) of the Ger\u00adman VAT Act), and com\u00adpa\u00adnies that prepa\u00adre finan\u00adcial state\u00adments must wri\u00adte down the cla\u00adim in their annu\u00adal accounts. If a legal dis\u00adpu\u00adte ends in a sett\u00adle\u00adment, it depends on what the pay\u00adment is for: a pay\u00adment for ser\u00advices ren\u00adde\u00adred con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtes con\u00adside\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon sub\u00adject to VAT, whe\u00adre\u00adas genui\u00adne com\u00adpen\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon for dama\u00adges does not. The text of the sett\u00adle\u00adment should cle\u00adar\u00adly reflect this and spe\u00adci\u00adfy whe\u00adther the amount is paya\u00adble plus VAT. In the absence of such a pro\u00advi\u00adsi\u00adon, the reci\u00adpi\u00adent must, in case of doubt, pay VAT on the sett\u00adle\u00adment amount. We descri\u00adbe how we enforce claims, from the first remin\u00adder let\u00adter through to enforce\u00adment, on our page on <a href=\"\/en\/forderungsmanagement-flensburg\/\">Cre\u00addit manage\u00adment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We explo\u00adre just how clo\u00adse\u00adly employ\u00adment law and tax are lin\u00adked \u2013 for exam\u00adp\u00adle, in rela\u00adti\u00adon to sever\u00adance pay\u00adments, ter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon agree\u00adments and bogus self-employ\u00adment \u2013 in a sepa\u00adra\u00adte artic\u00adle: <a href=\"\/en\/anwalt-fuer-arbeitsrecht\/\">Employ\u00adment law and tax advice under one roof<\/a>. For infor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon on the han\u00addo\u00adver of a fami\u00adly busi\u00adness, see our artic\u00adle on <a href=\"\/en\/unternehmensnachfolge-flensburg\/\">Busi\u00adness suc\u00adces\u00adsi\u00adon in Flens\u00adburg<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What \u201eall under one roof\u201c means in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For us, \u2018one-stop advice\u2019 does not sim\u00adply mean that a soli\u00adci\u00adtor and a tax advi\u00adser are based in the same office. Ina Ree\u00adse is a soli\u00adci\u00adtor, a spe\u00adcia\u00adlist in tax law and a tax advi\u00adser, all rol\u00adled into one. She has been run\u00adning her prac\u00adti\u00adce in Flens\u00adburg and Harris\u00adlee sin\u00adce 2000. For cli\u00adents, this has very prac\u00adti\u00adcal implications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>One point of cont\u00adact, one file.<\/strong> The\u00adre is no need to explain mat\u00adters twice, nor to cross-check docu\u00adments bet\u00adween two offices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Design and cal\u00adcu\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon at the same time.<\/strong> When we draft a con\u00adtract, we work through the tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons of the various opti\u00adons in par\u00adal\u00adlel, rather than wai\u00adting until after it has been signed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Design that is actual\u00adly put into prac\u00adti\u00adce.<\/strong> As we also hand\u00adle book\u00adkee\u00adping, tax returns and annu\u00adal accounts on request, we are able to check whe\u00adther a con\u00adtract is being imple\u00admen\u00adted in prac\u00adti\u00adce as inten\u00added \u2013 for exam\u00adp\u00adle, whe\u00adther the agreed mana\u00adging director\u2019s sala\u00adry is actual\u00adly being paid as agreed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No break in the event of a dis\u00adpu\u00adte.<\/strong> Should an appeal or legal action be brought befo\u00adre the tax court, the cli\u00adent remains with the same soli\u00adci\u00adtor. In cri\u00admi\u00adnal tax pro\u00adcee\u00addings, the same appli\u00ades, sub\u00adject to the excep\u00adti\u00adon men\u00adtio\u00adned&nbsp;above.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dou\u00adble duty of con\u00adfi\u00adden\u00adtia\u00adli\u00adty.<\/strong> As a soli\u00adci\u00adtor and tax advi\u00adser, Ina Ree\u00adse is bound by a duty of con\u00adfi\u00adden\u00adtia\u00adli\u00adty (Sec\u00adtion 43a(2) of the Fede\u00adral Lawy\u00aders\u2019 Act (BRAO), \u00a7 57(1) StBerG) and, as a gene\u00adral rule, has the right to refu\u00adse to give evi\u00addence in cri\u00admi\u00adnal pro\u00adcee\u00addings (\u00a7 53(1), first sen\u00adtence, No. 3&nbsp;StPO).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Con\u00adsul\u00adta\u00adti\u00adons are available in Ger\u00adman, Eng\u00adlish and Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the boundaries lie<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A one-stop con\u00adsul\u00adtancy ser\u00advice does not mean that a law firm can hand\u00adle ever\u00ady\u00adthing on its own. Some limi\u00adta\u00adti\u00adons are laid down by law, whilst others ari\u00adse from the natu\u00adre of the firm\u2019s specialisation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nota\u00adri\u00adal cer\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon:<\/strong> The incor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon of a limi\u00adt\u00aded lia\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty com\u00adpa\u00adny (GmbH), the trans\u00adfer of GmbH shares, amend\u00adments to the artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon, mer\u00adger and demer\u00adger agree\u00adments, and pro\u00adper\u00adty tran\u00adsac\u00adtions must be nota\u00adri\u00adsed. We prepa\u00adre the rele\u00advant docu\u00adments and coor\u00addi\u00adna\u00adte them with the notary\u2019s office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Are\u00adas of law out\u00adside our core prac\u00adti\u00adce:<\/strong> We pro\u00advi\u00adde con\u00adsul\u00adtancy ser\u00advices in the are\u00adas lis\u00adted on our <a href=\"\/en\/leistungen-der-kanzlei-reese-fuer-recht-steuern\/\">Over\u00adview of Ser\u00advices<\/a> \u2026 If a ques\u00adti\u00adon falls out\u00adside this scope, we\u2019ll say so openly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inter\u00adna\u00adtio\u00adnal con\u00adtext:<\/strong> In the case of busi\u00adness dealings or assets abroad, such as in Den\u00admark, we assess the Ger\u00adman aspects. A local advi\u00adser may also be requi\u00adred to deal with the rele\u00advant for\u00adeign&nbsp;law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Checklist: When legal and tax matters need to be discussed together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You are set\u00adting up a busi\u00adness or taking on a new shareholder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A part\u00adner\u00adship agree\u00adment, a mana\u00adging director\u2019s con\u00adtract or a com\u00admer\u00adcial ten\u00adan\u00adcy agree\u00adment is ente\u00adred into or amended.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You wish to res\u00adtruc\u00adtu\u00adre your busi\u00adness, trans\u00adfer it into a limi\u00adt\u00aded lia\u00adbi\u00adli\u00adty com\u00adpa\u00adny (GmbH) or spin off a part of the business.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are buy\u00ading or sel\u00adling a busi\u00adness, shares in a com\u00adpa\u00adny or a com\u00admer\u00adcial property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A tax audit has been announ\u00adced or is alre\u00ada\u00addy under\u00adway, or the audi\u00adtor sud\u00adden\u00adly starts asking dif\u00adfe\u00adrent questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A legal dis\u00adpu\u00adte is to be sett\u00adled by way of a settlement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The han\u00addo\u00adver of the busi\u00adness to the next gene\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon is imminent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a one-stop consultancy service more expensive than two separate consultants?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not auto\u00adma\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly. The Tax Advi\u00adsers\u2019 Remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Regu\u00adla\u00adti\u00adons app\u00adly to tax returns and book\u00adkee\u00adping, whilst the Lawy\u00aders\u2019 Remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Act appli\u00ades to appeals, pro\u00adcee\u00addings befo\u00adre the tax courts and cri\u00admi\u00adnal pro\u00adcee\u00addings, regard\u00adless of who car\u00adri\u00ades out the work. Dif\u00adfe\u00adrent remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon arran\u00adge\u00adments are pos\u00adsi\u00adble. Whe\u00adre sepa\u00adra\u00adte advi\u00adsers are invol\u00adved, howe\u00adver, this crea\u00adtes addi\u00adtio\u00adnal work if both need to fami\u00adlia\u00adri\u00adse them\u00adsel\u00adves with the same facts and coor\u00addi\u00adna\u00adte with one ano\u00adther. We will dis\u00adcuss the bil\u00adling arran\u00adge\u00adments befo\u00adre the enga\u00adge\u00adment begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need to change my current tax adviser?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. You can also enga\u00adge us spe\u00adci\u00adfi\u00adcal\u00adly for a one-off assign\u00adment, a tax audit or a dis\u00adpu\u00adte. If you wish to ent\u00adrust us with your ongo\u00ading tax affairs in their enti\u00adre\u00adty, you are wel\u00adco\u00adme to do so. We will then coor\u00addi\u00adna\u00adte the han\u00addo\u00adver of the pre\u00advious year\u2019s data in an orga\u00adnis\u00aded manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the difference between this and a firm with solicitors and tax advisers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a joint prac\u00adti\u00adce, peo\u00adp\u00adle with dif\u00adfe\u00adrent qua\u00adli\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons work tog\u00ade\u00adther. This can work well, but it requi\u00adres them to liai\u00adse with one ano\u00adther on an ongo\u00ading basis. In our prac\u00adti\u00adce, legal and tax assess\u00adments are car\u00adri\u00aded out by the same person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What documents do I need for an initial interview?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For an initi\u00adal assess\u00adment, the rele\u00advant con\u00adtracts or drafts, the latest annu\u00adal accounts or tax assess\u00adment noti\u00adce and, whe\u00adre appli\u00adca\u00adble, cor\u00adre\u00adspon\u00addence from the tax office are usual\u00adly suf\u00adfi\u00adci\u00adent. We will cla\u00adri\u00adfy what else is requi\u00adred during the initi\u00adal consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons are deter\u00admi\u00adned in the con\u00adtract, not in the tax return. It is almost impos\u00adsi\u00adble to rec\u00adti\u00adfy them retrospectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The legal form, the artic\u00adles of asso\u00adcia\u00adti\u00adon and the direc\u00adtors\u2019 remu\u00adne\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon deter\u00admi\u00adne how a com\u00adpa\u00adny and its share\u00adhol\u00adders are&nbsp;taxed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Con\u00adver\u00adsi\u00adons can only be car\u00adri\u00aded out on a tax-neu\u00adtral basis if the legal imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon meets the tax requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the case of com\u00admer\u00adcial lea\u00adses, busi\u00adness acqui\u00adsi\u00adti\u00adons and sett\u00adle\u00adments, the wor\u00adding of the con\u00adtract deter\u00admi\u00adnes the VAT liability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a tax audit leads to cri\u00admi\u00adnal pro\u00adcee\u00addings, the rules chan\u00adge. Tax and cri\u00admi\u00adnal assess\u00adments must then be coordinated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ina Ree\u00adse is a soli\u00adci\u00adtor, a spe\u00adcia\u00adlist in tax law and a tax advi\u00adser, all rol\u00adled into&nbsp;one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Are you plan\u00adning to draw up a con\u00adtract, car\u00adry out a reor\u00adga\u00adni\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon, or have you recei\u00adved a let\u00adter from the tax office?<\/strong> During an initi\u00adal con\u00adsul\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon las\u00adting around 15 minu\u00adtes, we will dis\u00adcuss what the mat\u00adter is about and which legal and tax issues should be cla\u00adri\u00adfied first. <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">Get in touch&nbsp;now<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ustg_1980\/__1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 1 of the Value Added Tax Act (UStG): Taxa\u00adble tran\u00adsac\u00adtions (para\u00adgraph 1a: Trans\u00adfer of a business)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ustg_1980\/__9.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 9 of the Value Added Tax Act: Wai\u00adver of tax exemptions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ustg_1980\/__14c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 14c of the Value Added Tax Act: Incor\u00adrect or unaut\u00adho\u00adri\u00adsed state\u00adment of&nbsp;tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ustg_1980\/__15a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 15a of the Ger\u00adman Value Added Tax Act (UStG): Adjus\u00adt\u00adment of input tax deduction<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ustg_1980\/__17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 17 of the Value Added Tax Act: Chan\u00adge to the tax&nbsp;base<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/kstg_1977\/__1a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 1a of the Cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act: Opti\u00adon for cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon&nbsp;tax<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/kstg_1977\/__8.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 8 of the Cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act: Deter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon of inco\u00adme (para\u00adgraph 3: hid\u00adden pro\u00adfit distribution)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/estg\/__35.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 35 of the Inco\u00adme Tax Act (EStG): Tax reli\u00adef on inco\u00adme from busi\u00adness activities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/sgb_4\/__7a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 7a of Book IV of the Social Code: Deter\u00admi\u00adna\u00adti\u00adon of employ\u00adment status<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fede\u00adral Social Court (BSG), jud\u00adge\u00adment of March 2018, B 12 KR 13\/17 R (social secu\u00adri\u00adty con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adons of a share\u00adhol\u00adder-direc\u00adtor, blo\u00adcking minority)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/umwstg_2006\/__15.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 15 of the Ger\u00adman Tax Trans\u00adfor\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon Act (UmwStG): Demer\u00adger, spin-off and par\u00adti\u00adal transfer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/umwstg_2006\/__2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 2 of the Tax Reor\u00adga\u00adni\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon Act: Retroac\u00adti\u00adve effect for tax purposes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/umwstg_2006\/__20.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 20 of the Ger\u00adman Reor\u00adga\u00adni\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon Tax Act (UmwStG): Con\u00adtri\u00adbu\u00adti\u00adon to a com\u00adpa\u00adny limi\u00adt\u00aded by shares<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/umwstg_2006\/__22.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 22 of the Ger\u00adman Taxa\u00adti\u00adon of Busi\u00adness Trans\u00adfers Act (UmwStG): Taxa\u00adti\u00adon of the share\u00adhol\u00adder (lock-in period)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/umwg_1995\/__17.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 17 of the UmwG: Anne\u00adxes to the appli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adon (clo\u00adsing balan\u00adce&nbsp;sheet)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ao_1977\/__393.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 393 of the Ger\u00adman Fis\u00adcal Code (AO): Rela\u00adti\u00adonship bet\u00adween cri\u00admi\u00adnal pro\u00adcee\u00addings and tax proceedings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ao_1977\/__397.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 397 of the Ger\u00adman Fis\u00adcal Code (AO): Com\u00admence\u00adment of cri\u00admi\u00adnal proceedings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/ao_1977\/__162.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 162 of the Ger\u00adman Fis\u00adcal Code (AO): Esti\u00adma\u00adti\u00adon of the basis of assessment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/brao\/__43a.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 43a of the BRAO: Fun\u00adda\u00admen\u00adtal duties (con\u00adfi\u00adden\u00adtia\u00adli\u00adty)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/stberg\/__57.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 57 of the Tax Advi\u00adsers Act: Gene\u00adral pro\u00adfes\u00adsio\u00adnal duties<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gesetze-im-internet.de\/stpo\/__53.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sec\u00adtion 53 of the Code of Cri\u00admi\u00adnal Pro\u00adce\u00addu\u00adre: The right of per\u00adsons bound by pro\u00adfes\u00adsio\u00adnal sec\u00adre\u00adcy to refu\u00adse to give evidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sec\u00adtion 10(1) of the Tax Audit Regu\u00adla\u00adti\u00adons (BpO 2000, Admi\u00adnis\u00adtra\u00adti\u00adve Regu\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon): Sus\u00adpi\u00adci\u00adon of a tax offence during a field&nbsp;audit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sec\u00adtion 1.3 of the VAT Imple\u00admen\u00adta\u00adti\u00adon Regu\u00adla\u00adti\u00adons (Com\u00adpen\u00adsa\u00adti\u00adon for dama\u00adges as a non-taxa\u00adble transaction)<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many tax impli\u00adca\u00adti\u00adons are not deter\u00admi\u00adned in the tax return, but are deci\u00added before\u00adhand in the con\u00adtract. Using examp\u00adles from com\u00adpa\u00adny law, cor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adte res\u00adtruc\u00adtu\u00adring, ten\u00adan\u00adcy law and tax audits, we demons\u00adtra\u00adte whe\u00adre law and tax go hand in&nbsp;hand.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[230,403,405,402,401,349,156,404],"class_list":["post-1603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemeines","tag-betriebspruefung","tag-doppelqualifikation","tag-gesellschaftsvertrag","tag-rechtsberatung","tag-steuerberatung","tag-steuerstrafrecht","tag-umsatzsteuer","tag-umwandlung"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1603"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1605,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1603\/revisions\/1605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kanzlei-reese.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}