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Germany Value Added Tax:
- From 1.1.2007 ,in most cases, value added tax is 19%.
- There is a reduced rate of 7% that relates mainly to food and agricultural products.
- Value added tax is imposed on assets and services in Germany as well as on imports into Germany.
- Overseas exports are exempt from value added tax.
- Value added tax reports must be submitted monthly.
- There are special provisions for small businesses.
Germany Inheritance and Gifts Tax:
- A tax applies in Germany to both inheritances and gifts and the application of the taxation principles is similar in both cases.
- When either the person making the gift / the testator or the recipient of the gift / the heir is a German resident, the tax applies also to assets that are overseas.
- When neither the person making the gift / the testator or the recipient of the gift / the heir is a German resident, the tax applies only to assets that are located in Germany.
- When tax is imposed in a foreign country, the tax paid overseas will be deducted from the tax payable in Germany. For these purposes a Double Taxation Prevention Treaty has been signed with a number of countries, among them, the United States of America, Switzerland, Austria and others.
- As a general rule, recipients of gifts / inheritances are divided into three groups.
Group 1 - a spouse, children.
Group 2 - parents and grandchildren.
Group 3 - all others.
- The tax rates vary according to the above groups and also depend on the value of the asset. The tax payable fluctuates between 7% and 50%.
- There are certain exemptions that depend on the degree of family kinship.
Germany Real Estate Transfer Tax:
- The tax is imposed on real estate that is located in Germany.
- The taxes are transferred to the local authority in which the property is located.
- The tax is also imposed when buying at least 95% shares of a company owning real estate.
- The rate of tax is 3.5%.
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