This publication gives investors and fund managers an overview of year-end to-dos and important issues in real estate taxation in 37 tax systems worldwide. Furthermore, it highlights what needs to be considered in international tax planning and the structuring of real estate investments. Continue reading
Tax & Legal
According to Section 6 (1) of the Foreign Taxes Act (FTA), where a taxpayer’s unlimited tax liability ceases through the taxpayer giving up his German residence/habitual abode, any material shareholdings held in his private property will be deemed as disposed of even without a sale and any capital gain on the deemed disposal will be taxable under Section 17 (1) of the Income Tax Act (ITA). Section 6 (3) FTA provides for this so-called exit tax to be subsequently waived in certain circumstances. The Münster Tax Court held that in addition to the (objective) re-establishment of the unlimited tax liability (i.e. the re-establishment of the German residence/habitual abode), it was also necessary for the taxpayer to provide credible evidence that the will to return existed (subjectively) upon departure. Continue reading
On 28 November 2019 the Federal Ministry of Finance (MoF) issued a revised circular on standards for the proper keeping and storage of books, records and documents in electronic form and for data access (here “GoBD”) – ( IV A 4 – S 0316/19/10003 :001 (2019/0962810). Continue reading
On 29 November 2019, the Bundesrat approved the Act on the Tax Promotion of Research and Development (Research Subsidy Act). The statute will come into force on 1 January 2020 initially for a 6-month period. Continue reading
In its plenary session last Friday, the Bundesrat approved the Act on the Further Tax Promotion of Electric Mobility and the Amendment of Further Tax Regulations (“Finance Act 2019”) Continue reading
According to the Supreme Tax Court in its judgment of 11 July 2019 – (II R 38/16), published on 28 November 2019, the inheritance tax exemption on the inheritance a family home by the surviving spouse or civil partner will not apply retroactively where the surviving spouse/partner transfers ownership of the family home to a third party within ten years of acquisition. This will also be the case where the surviving spouse/partner continues to use the home for residential purposes under the terms of a lifetime interest. Continue reading
Our November 2019 Newsletter includes news about the Finance Act 2019 and the Land Tax reform, as well as news from the Supreme Tax Court and the European Court of Justice. Continue reading
On 7 November 2019, the Bundestag approved the Act on the Further Tax Promotion of Electric Mobility and the Amendment of Further Tax Regulations (Finance Act 2019 – “FA19”) in the version recommended by the Finance Committee of the Bundestag. In its recommendation, the Finance Committee included a number of the Bundesrat’s regulatory proposals. Continue reading
According to the Supreme Tax Court in its ruling of 25 July 2019 (III R 22/16), published on 7 November 2019, fees paid by a tour operator to hoteliers for the provision of hotel rooms are not subject to the trade tax add-back. Under Section 8 No. 1 Letters d and e of the Trade Tax Act, rental and leasing payments made for the use of moveable and immoveable assets which have previously been deducted from the income tax/corporation tax base, are to be partially added back to trade tax base, where the asset would be treated as an asset in the balance sheet of the taxpayer, if he actually owned the asset. Continue reading
Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) earlier this year, the Supreme Tax Court held in its decision of 31 October 2019 that the incorporation into the tax base of controlled company income from invested capital from an intermediary company domiciled in Switzerland in the financial year 2006 may restrict the free movement of capital, but it is justified through compelling reasons of public interest and does not therefore contravene EU law. Continue reading