Tax advice for companies
Nowadays, good tax advisers play a key role in a business’s success. They do not just oversee the accounts; they also provide strategic advice where required. As tax consultancy specialising in commercial law For businesses, we specialise in comprehensive consultancy services for businesses all under one roof. Our expertise is across sectors and internationally connected.
Our services for your business
- Tax returns and annual accounts
- Strategic advice on tax, inheritance and company law
- Day-to-day financial accounting and payroll accounting
- Business analysis and consultancy
- Representation in tax dispute proceedings – appeals against tax assessment notices and legal proceedings
- Review of specific tax issues relating to limited liability companies (GmbH) and partnerships
- Support for business start-ups, restructuring and the acquisition and sale of companies
- Succession planning for limited liability companies (GmbH) and partnerships
- Legal representation in criminal tax law
Complex projects from a single source
A key advantage of our consultancy service is that we are both tax advisers AND commercial lawyers. This means that we can help you implement even complex tax and strategic plans that would normally require the involvement of various specialist solicitors. For example, you can initiate business succession plans and transactions in collaboration with our specialist solicitors in company law or inheritance law.
Our daily bread: Annual accounts & bookkeeping
Day-to-day bookkeeping and the preparation of annual accounts – these are obligations for every business. In addition, information must be exchanged with the tax office at regular intervals in the form of various interim returns. Here are the most important documents, which we would be happy to prepare and compile for you:
- Balance sheet, profit and loss account (P&L): They essentially constitute the annual accounts for companies subject to accounting requirements. The balance sheet provides a „snapshot“ of a company’s financial position as at a specific date. The profit and loss account sets out the income and expenses for a financial year.
- Statement of surplus: Businesses and self-employed people who are not legally required to keep accounts have it easier. The EÜR is a summary of your business income and expenditure – the difference between the two is your net profit. The „cash basis“ applies here, which means that only income and expenditure actually paid in the relevant year are taken into account when calculating the profit.
- Advance VAT Return (UStVA): In principle, every business owner must submit the VAT figures for the previous month – as calculated by themselves – to the tax office by the 10th of each month via electronic data transmission (DFÜ). Depending on the amount of VAT due, it is also possible to apply for a quarterly advance return or for a complete exemption from the obligation to submit advance returns.
- VAT return: Every business owner – including those who are not required to submit a preliminary return – must, as a general rule, submit a VAT return by 31 May of the following year.
Your figures are of interest not only to the tax authorities, but also, of course, to you, your suppliers, creditors, shareholders and so on. They form the basis for strategic decisions.
We’d be happy to take care of your day-to-day bookkeeping and/or the preparation of annual accounts and tax returns for you. Get in touch – you’ll find an attractive offer waiting for you, relief from tedious paperwork, and someone who keeps a close eye on your business’s progress and provides the right ideas at the right time.
Tax avoidance and minimisation strategies
When it comes to sensitive tax planning arrangements, it is essential to be able to rely on a team of specialists. Our highly qualified and experienced solicitors, specialist solicitors and tax advisers in the fields of tax law and criminal tax law, company law, inheritance law and corporate law are on hand to provide you with comprehensive advice on all matters relating to tax planning options at any time.
The line between permissible legal tax arrangements, the abuse of legal structuring options and tax arrangements that are punishable by law is a fine one. The boundaries are blurred and difficult, if not impossible, for the legal layperson to discern. Even case law often fails to provide a clear line of guidance, and there is no sufficient consensus in the legal literature as to where exactly the boundary of what is permissible lies. There is therefore sometimes a conflict between optimal tax planning and the risk of overstepping legal boundaries.
Advice on tax planning is therefore accompanied by preventative advice aimed at avoiding arrangements that could be deemed abusive or give rise to criminal tax offences.
As well as highlighting the advantages of different structuring options, we will also outline the risks and work with you to find a solution based on your objectives, wishes and expectations. In doing so, we take into account not only your tax interests but also the associated legal and financial interdependencies, which can easily lead to a domino effect.
You can then rest assured that the approach we have agreed upon will be implemented in a targeted manner, as our aim is to provide long-term, comprehensive and client-focused advice.