VAT record keeping and joint and several liability for operators of electronic interfaces as of July 1, 2021. Continue reading
Tax & Legal
According to the decision of the Supreme Tax Court the offset of losses in case of an upstream merger with the profits of the transferring company accrued during the period of retrospective application was not abusive and in accordance with the legal (tax) provisions in force in the year of dispute (2008). Continue reading
The right to deduct input VAT is denied not only if the taxable person himself commits an evasion, but also if he is aware that he participated with his acquisition in a tax evasion. In the latter case the refusal of the input tax deduction is a consequence of the failure to comply with the responsibilities in suspect cases. The taxable person who knew or should have known that he or she was participating in a fraudulent transaction assists the perpetrators of that fraud and becomes an accomplice thereto. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) confirms its previous case law on this issue. Continue reading
On May 7, 2021, the German Parliament (Bundestag) adopted the “Gesetz zur Modernisierung der Entlastung von Abzugsteuern und der Bescheinigung von Kapitalertragsteuer – AbzStEntlModG” (Act to Modernize the Relief from Withholding Taxes and the Certification of Capital Gains Tax). The German Federal Council (Bundesrat) passed the Act on May 28, 2021 so that the German legislative process has now been finalized. The Act also contains amendments or supplements to the Foreign Tax Act (AStG) and the General Tax Code (AO) that are relevant from a transfer pricing perspective. Our Newsflash provides an overview of the most important points. Continue reading
Although both of the plaintiffs lost their cases before the Supreme Tax Court, the current ruling has far-reaching consequences for future generations of pensioners, such as those now in their mid-40s. In both of its decisions, the court provided concrete guidelines on how double taxation of pensions must be avoided in the future. Continue reading
The EU needs a robust, efficient and fair business tax framework that supports the post-COVID-19 recovery, removes obstacles to cross-border investment and creates an environment conducive to fair and sustainable growth. That is why, on 18 May 2021, the Commission published the Communication on Business Taxation for the 21st Century. Continue reading
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Tax Court held that the deemed settlement of final withholding tax under Section 43 (5) Sentence 1, Half-Sentence 1 Income Tax Act (ITA) also applies if the tax has been withheld by the debtor (payer) of the investment income, but not declared and paid over to the tax office. As a result, investment income from a fraudulent pyramid scheme is in principle no longer to be included in the income tax base. Continue reading
On 07 May 2021, the Bundesrat approved the law amending the Real Estate Transfer Tax Act. Continue reading
At a plenary session on 28 April 2021, the EU Parliament formally approved the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The agreement had been provisionally applicable since 1 January 2021 but will now enter into force formally on 1 May 2021. Continue reading
With the backing of the coalition parties, the Bundestag has voted in favour of the law amending the Real Estate Transfer Tax Act. Continue reading