Tax & Legal

If a gift is subject to inheritance tax under foreign law (here: Switzerland) because the donor dies within a short period of time after the donation, the tax is to be credited against the German gift tax pursuant to Section 21 Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax Act. With this decision, the Duesseldorf Tax Court upheld the claim of the plaintiff, who had residences both in the Canton of Lucerne and in Germany.

Prepared by Flavia Barone and Fabrizio Tenuta

An ECJ advocate general has suggested the court recognise a restriction on the free movement of capital from the differing treatment of the corporation tax underlying domestic and foreign dividends, but hold it to be justified in the interests of maintaining the internationally agreed balance of taxing rights.