Current accounting tax law

Current developments in accounting law and accounting tax law

• International and national development of accounting law.
• Innovations from current tax legislation, in particular changes in corporate taxation.
• Decisions of the tax courts as well as current and expected decisions of the BFH.
• Excursus: News on the disclosure of annual financial statements and e-balance sheet.

Application to individual items in the annual financial statements, taking into account current case law

Fixed assets

• Valuation of intangible assets, software, goodwill, differentiation between acquisition and production costs and current maintenance costs, valuation of investments.

Current assets

• Differentiation between fixed and current assets, valuation of inventories and receivables (specific and general valuation allowances as well as realization principle and timing), going concern value as a valuation standard and write-down to going concern value.

Equity

• Statement of equity for partnerships and corporations, statement of net income for the year, changes in capital.

Provisions

• Types of provisions and accounting regulations (valuation, discounting), consideration of selected areas of provisions taking into account current accounting tax case law.

Deferred taxes

• Principles of accounting, disclosure and valuation.

Liabilities

• Valuation and discounting of liabilities, shareholder loans, subordination, debt waivers and letters of comfort.

Tax-free income and non-deductible expenses

• Dividends and capital gains in accordance with Section 8b KStG, limited debt interest deduction in accordance with Section 4 (4a) EStG and interest barrier (Section 4h EStG), non-deductible operating expenses (Section 4 (5) EStG), trade tax (Section 4 (5b) EStG).

Deductions motivated by (tax) law

• Investment deduction, reinvestment reserve, reserve for replacement purchases.

Balance sheet policy and balance sheet management

• Targeted use of commercial and tax structuring options both before and after the balance sheet date, accounting and valuation scope, use of discretionary powers.