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Payroll Health Check – how to set up your payroll for the future

Helath Check Part 10

A Payroll Health Check is a systematic review and assessment of your company’s payroll accounting. The goal is to identify risks, correct errors and set up payroll to be fit for the future. We take an allround approach with the motto “prevention, not reaction”. We place our main focus on practically carrying out your internal policies and remuneration models in operational payroll. The result is a risk assessment that includes recommendations for action and, if needed, support for your payroll department with making corrected returns and a review of historical payroll periods.

Katharina Lehner
Sophie Römer
Michael Schäfer
| 7 min read | 09 Jul 2026

Federal Fiscal Court ruling: when does trade tax liability for notional business activities arise?

BFH-Insights

Trade tax liability under section 2(1) of the Trade Tax Act [Gewerbesteuergesetz–GewStG] is substantively linked to business activity under section 15(2) of the Income Tax Act [Einkommensteuergesetz–EStG]. However, there are differences in the timing between income tax and trade tax. Trade tax liability under section 2(1) of the Trade Tax Act only arises once all the conditions that constitute business activity have been met and the business activity has been started. Income tax, on the other hand, covers all business activities starting from the first preparatory step to open a business. With regard to notional business activities (section 15(3) of the Income Tax Act), which also give rise to a trade tax liability, the Federal Fiscal Court [Bundesfinanzhof–BFH] has again now ruled on this issue (file ref. IV R 5/24).

Dr Martin Weiss
| 7 min read | 08 Jul 2026

Federal Fiscal Court ruling: Income tax election rights and applying them in the tax assessment notice

BFH-Insights

In the area of income taxes, taxpayers have numerous election rights that can have a significant impact on their tax burden. The income tax consequences are not always as dramatic as those resulting from the extended deduction under section 9 no. 1 sentence 2 and following of the Trade Tax Act [Gewerbesteuergesetz–GewStG], which triggers an (almost complete) exemption from trade tax. Other elections can reduce the income tax burden, for example, when electing for the partial income method (“Teileinkünfteverfahren”; section 32d(2) no. 3 of the Income Tax Act [Einkommensteuergesetz–EStG]), which makes actual income-related expenses deductible. With regard to the deduction for special expenses under section 10a, the Federal Fiscal Court [Bundesfinanzhof–BFH] has now once again ruled on making elections and the procedural implications (file ref. X R 28/24).

Dr Martin Weiss
| 5 min read | 08 Jul 2026

Federal Fiscal Court ruling: International taxation rights related to shipping

BFH-Insights

Under German tax law, shipping is particularly supported in a national context through imput-ed taxation (“tonnage taxation”; “Tonnagenbesteuerung”) under section 5a of the Income Tax Act [Einkommensteuergesetz–EStG] and section 7 sentence 3 of the Trade Tax Act [Gew-erbesteuergesetz–GewStG]. In a cross-border context, ship personnel who are subject to non-resident tax liability only derive German-source income under (a) of section 49(1) no. 4 of the Income Tax Act, whereas flight personnel must also observe an additional specific provi-sion in letter (e). Furthermore, German double tax treaties (DTT) often contain provisions modeled after article 15(3) of the 2025 OECD Model Convention, on which the Federal Fiscal Court [BFH; Bundesfinanzhof] has now ruled (file ref. VI R 1/24).

Dr Martin Weiss
| 8 min read | 08 Jul 2026

Annual Tax Act 2026 – new rules for VAT grouping starting from 2029

VAT groups

A declaration procedure is to be added to the conditions VAT groups must satisfy in future. In the draft bill for an Annual Tax Act dated 19 May 2026, the current rules on VAT groups (section 2(2) no. 2 VAT Act) were rescinded and replaced by new rules in draft section 2c. The familiar conditions for inclusion – financial, economic and organisational inclusion – and the legal consequences of VAT grouping basically remain the same. What is new is that from 1 January 2029 a VAT group will only take effect when the controlling company explicitly submits a declaration to the tax office. It will also be possible to include partnerships as controlled companies in future if they satisfy the conditions for inclusion.

Katharina Lehner
Dr Lucas Rapp
| 6 min read | 07 Jul 2026
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Press releases

Grant Thornton increases annual revenue to EUR 264 million in financial year 2024/25

11 Mar 2026

The audit and advisory firm Grant Thornton in Germany ended the 2024/25 financial year on September 30, 2025, with consolidated revenue of EUR 264 million (up 6 percent on the previous year). The Audit & Assurance division recorded particularly strong growth with an increase of 14 per cent compared to the previous year.

Grant Thornton Germany wins Martin Biegel for the new position of CFO/COO

09 Feb 2026

Martin Biegel joined the Senior Leadership Team of the audit and advisory firm Grant Thornton Germany in February as the new Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer (CFO/COO) and in this role will actively help drive the firm’s strategic development.

Grant Thornton Germany and Cinven enter into strategic partnership

13 Oct 2025

The Equity Partners of Grant Thornton AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (“Grant Thornton Germany”) have approved the strategic partnership with international private equity firm Cinven. This marks a key milestone for the transaction initially announced on 10 September 2025, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. The partnership further strengthens Grant Thornton Germany’s position as a leading, trusted service provider in the German audit and advisory market, ushering in its next phase of growth.

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