German tax law is among the most complex in the world — spanning corporate income tax (Körperschaftsteuer), trade tax (Gewerbesteuer), value added tax (Umsatzsteuer), real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer), inheritance and gift tax (Erbschaft- und Schenkungsteuer), and an extensive network of double taxation treaties and EU Directives. LexBerg's tax law team advises businesses, investors, and high-net-worth individuals on structuring their affairs in a tax-efficient and fully compliant manner under German and international tax law.
For international businesses and individuals with connections to Germany, the interaction between German domestic tax law and Germany's network of over 90 double tax treaties creates significant planning opportunities — and significant risks if mismanaged. LexBerg provides integrated tax advice that is closely coordinated with our corporate, real estate, employment, and estate planning practices, ensuring that transactions and structures are legally robust and tax-efficient from every angle.
We advise on corporate income tax, trade tax, and the structuring of German holding and operating company arrangements — including the application of the participation exemption, interest deduction limitation rules, and controlled foreign corporation provisions.
LexBerg advises on the tax aspects of M&A transactions, real estate acquisitions (including Grunderwerbsteuer optimisation in portfolio deals), and corporate restructurings — integrating tax advice seamlessly into the transaction process.
We represent clients in tax audits (Betriebsprüfungen), administrative appeals (Einspruchsverfahren), and proceedings before the Finanzgericht and Bundesfinanzhof — with a track record of successfully challenging assessments on technical grounds.
For private clients, LexBerg advises on income tax optimisation, the tax treatment of investment portfolios and carried interest, exit tax planning for individuals leaving Germany (§6 AStG), and the tax consequences of receiving inheritances or making lifetime gifts across borders. We also advise on voluntary disclosure (strafbefreiende Selbstanzeige) for clients with previously undeclared income or foreign assets who wish to regularise their tax position before a tax audit or criminal investigation is opened.
- Corporate income tax and trade tax structuring
- VAT compliance, planning, and cross-border supply chain advice
- Transaction tax and real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer)
- International tax planning, treaty analysis, and transfer pricing
- Controlled foreign corporation (CFC) and ATAD compliance
- Inheritance and gift tax planning
- Tax audits, administrative appeals, and court proceedings
- Voluntary disclosure (Selbstanzeige) and regularisation
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