German Tax
German tax advice and tax returns
Personal tax advice for individuals, entrepreneurs and companies – from ongoing German tax compliance to complex domestic and cross-border tax matters.
German tax system
Personal, business and international taxes should be considered together
German tax law distinguishes between numerous taxes, filing obligations and procedural rules. Income tax, corporate income tax, trade tax, VAT, inheritance tax and other obligations can interact with one another.
We assist with accurate German tax compliance while also considering how income, shareholdings, real estate, investments, businesses and international connections interact for German tax purposes.
Service overview
German tax advice for different situations
Select the area that most closely matches your situation. Where several taxes or countries overlap, those issues are coordinated within the engagement.
Individuals and families
Preparation of German individual income-tax returns and advice on personal income, assets and changes in personal circumstances.
- Employees and retirees
- Self-employed professionals
- Investment income and shareholdings
- Rental income
- Foreign income
- Spouses and families
- Moving to or from Germany
- Tax residence
Companies and entrepreneurs
Ongoing German tax advice and compliance for corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors and their shareholders.
- Corporate income tax
- Trade tax
- Business income tax
- Partnership tax filings
- Distributions
- Shareholder relationships
- Ownership structures
- Permanent establishments
Real estate and investments
German tax advice for domestic and foreign real estate, investment accounts, securities and company interests.
- Rental property
- Private property disposals
- Foreign real estate
- Property transfers
- Financing and interest
- Investment income
- Corporate shareholdings
- Foreign investments
Inheritances, gifts and succession
Advice on asset transfers, inheritances and business succession involving German and international tax issues.
- Inheritance-tax returns
- Gift-tax returns
- Reporting inheritances and gifts
- Allowances and tax classes
- Real estate and business assets
- Usufruct and residential rights
- Business succession
- Foreign estates
VAT and payroll tax
Advice, filing and review of ongoing German tax obligations for businesses and employers.
- VAT advance returns
- Annual VAT returns
- Input VAT deductions
- Intra-EU transactions
- Reverse charge
- Import VAT
- EC Sales Lists
- Selected payroll-tax issues
Tax proceedings and the Finanzamt
Assistance in German tax proceedings and communication with the German tax authorities.
- Review of tax assessments
- Responses to tax-authority questions
- Objections
- Amendment requests
- Late tax returns
- Extensions
- Tax audits
- Tax-authority correspondence
Clients
Who our German tax services are designed for
Individuals and families with German or foreign income, real estate, investments or company interests.
Self-employed individuals, professionals, shareholders and owners of German or foreign businesses.
Expats, cross-border workers and individuals with work, residence or asset connections to more than one country.
German companies and foreign businesses with permanent establishments, employees or business activities in Germany.
Cross-Border Tax
International tax matters from a German perspective
In international cases, we coordinate German tax obligations with the tax rules and filing requirements of the other country.
Germany–Switzerland
Tax advice for individuals, entrepreneurs and companies with connections between Germany and Switzerland.
- Cross-border workers and home office
- Relocation and residence
- Real estate and investments
- Companies and permanent establishments
- Pensions and retirement plans
- Inheritances and gifts
Germany–United States
Coordinated German and U.S. tax advice for U.S. persons living in Germany and German clients with U.S. connections.
- German and U.S. tax returns
- FBAR and FATCA
- Investments and PFICs
- Companies and shareholdings
- Relocation
- Inheritances and gifts
Working together
From documents to the final tax assessment
Initial review
We determine tax liability, relevant taxes, deadlines and international connections.
Documents
You receive a structured document request and a secure method for providing the necessary information.
Tax filing
We prepare the tax return or analysis and resolve outstanding points with you.
Tax assessment
We review the assessment and assist with questions, amendments or objections where required.
Insights
Detailed guidance on German tax topics
Our German tax Insights cover personal taxation, corporate compliance, pensions, inheritances, company interests and selected international tax issues.
Explore German tax insightsFrequently asked questions
German tax advice
Do you prepare German income-tax returns for individuals?
Yes. We assist with German individual income-tax returns and can cover employment income, self-employment income, investments, shareholdings, real estate and foreign income.
Do you also advise companies?
Yes. Services can include corporate income-tax returns, trade-tax returns, partnership filings, VAT and selected structural, ownership and transaction matters.
Can you represent me before the German tax authorities?
Depending on the matter, representation can include extensions, tax-authority correspondence, review of tax assessments, objections, amendment requests and corrections.
What if I have income or assets outside Germany?
Foreign income, real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts and company interests can be relevant for German taxation and reporting. The treatment depends on the type of income or asset and the applicable tax treaty.
Do you handle cases involving Switzerland or the United States?
Yes. Germany–Switzerland and Germany–U.S. taxation are separate areas of focus. In these cases, we coordinate the German treatment with the obligations in the other country.
Do you also provide accounting services?
Yes. Accounting is offered as a separate service area and can include bookkeeping, VAT filings, payroll accounting, annual financial statements and management reporting.
Contact
Let us discuss your German tax matters.
During the initial consultation, we review your situation, the relevant German taxes, deadlines, international connections and the expected scope of services.