The obligation to prepare consolidated financial statements sometimes arises unexpectedly for companies – often as a result of growth or increasingly extensive and therefore more complex shareholding structures. What is frequently underestimated in this context is the process of initial consolidation.
Continue ReadingAuthor: Christoph Zelaskowski
Inheritance Tax and Protection of Legitimate Expectations: Federal Fiscal Court Allows Retroactive Tightening
The German Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) has ruled that, in the context of inheritance tax, the legislature may retroactively tighten rules governing business assets. For taxpayers, this means increased risk, as protection of legitimate expectations (“Vertrauensschutz”) ends earlier than many assume—namely, at least upon the legislative resolution in the Bundestag.
Continue ReadingBusiness Succession in Hotels & Gastronomy: Saving taxes using a retained usufruct interest
Succession planning is a sensitive matter for many hotel and catering businesses. A frequently used structuring model in hotel and gastronomy succession is the transfer of partnership shares with a retained usufruct interest (also called a “usufruct arrangement”).
Continue ReadingTransfer of business assets: Tax benefits & potential reforms
The transfer of business assets is a central issue in business succession and tax advisory. Under German inheritance and gift tax law, substantial tax benefits are granted to ensure the continuation of medium-sized companies and to preserve jobs. However, political reform proposals and a pending case before the Federal Constitutional Court may soon significantly restrict these privileges.
Continue ReadingWhat is my company worth? Business valuation in the context of business succession
Business valuation is a central foundation for strategic decisions – for example, in succession planning, the sale of a company, or the entry of investors. A sound valuation not only helps entrepreneurs during negotiations but also supports their own planning, and is therefore at the core of any succession arrangement.
Continue ReadingAdvantages and risks: retention of usufruct in the transfer of partnership shares
As part of lifetime business succession planning, businesses or partnership shares are frequently transferred by way of gift to successors—often with a retained usufruct (beneficial interest) in favor of the donor. To maximize available tax benefits—particularly exemption allowances—stringent compliance with specific regulatory requirements is essential.
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.
Sustainability and ESG Strategy: Important success factors for the business handover
Due to demographic change, the topic of company succession is becoming increasingly explosive, especially in medium-sized businesses. It requires careful preparation and poses numerous challenges for both the transferor and the transferee. Moreover, a takeover process can extend over several years if legal and tax aspects are to be used optimally.
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