Interim invoices are part of everyday life in the hotel industry and gastronomy – but from a financial administration perspective, they harbour considerable risks. Restaurateurs who pass on interim bills to their guests without clear allocation or without a transaction number risk tax consequences and legal trouble.
What do restaurateurs need to bear in mind to play it safe during tax audits?
Month: May 2025
Why you should make a will – before the law does it for you
Many people put off dealing with their will. However, anyone who has assets – whether in the form of real estate or company shares – or a complex family structure should not rely on the legal succession process. This often leads to disputes, tax burdens or outcomes that nobody wanted.
Continue ReadingWages in cryptocurrency: what works, what doesn’t?
Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly relevant in everyday life. They offer many advantages, but also disadvantages such as significant price fluctuations. But are cryptocurrencies suitable for paying wages, or are employers bound to conventional currencies? The Federal Labour Court (BAG) recently addressed this question.
Continue ReadingBerlin will: Avoid tax disadvantages with ‘directed disclaimer’?
The Berlin will is popular among married couples for jointly settling their estate. However, this type of will has tax disadvantages for children that are difficult to ‘correct’ after the death of one spouse. One way to avoid tax disadvantages for children after the death of a spouse is to make a directed disclaimer.
Continue ReadingAsset protection in Germany with the help of foundations – René Benko as a role model for asset protection?
The need to protect your assets from third parties is legitimate. Asset protection is an important issue, particularly for people with large and very large assets, and should always be considered when planning your estate.
A recent example of asset transfers to protect assets from third-party claims is the case of René Benko,
Continue ReadingObligations for crypto investors to cooperate tightened: This is what the BMF is now specifically calling for
In a letter dated 6 March 2025, the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) clarified its position on the taxation of crypto assets and tightened key points. Particular emphasis is placed on the taxpayer’s obligations to cooperate, which have often been underestimated in the past. Anyone who trades in cryptocurrencies or otherwise generates income from digital assets now has a significantly greater responsibility to disclose all tax-relevant information to the tax office in full – regardless of the platform on which the trading took place.
Continue ReadingCompulsory portion of real estate: When property becomes a point of contention
Close relatives can be disinherited by a will – but the compulsory portion remains. It gets really tricky when the estate is mostly made up of property. The compulsory portion claim can then become a big cash flow problem for the heirs. How can you avoid disputes over the compulsory portion?
Continue ReadingBusiness shares, wages and company succession
In the context of business succession, it is common for business owners to transfer company shares to the next generation by way of gifts.
It is equally conceivable to gift company shares to employees for strategic reasons. But is such a gift, e.g. of shares in a limited liability company (GmbH), subject to income tax as remuneration? The Federal Fiscal Court recently addressed this question.
