Tax criminal law

In recent years, international efforts to combat tax fraud have increased. In addition to the Tax Avoidance Act, which came into force in Germany, the automatic exchange of information on a global level had already begun in September 2017. In this context, significant tax data are exchanged between participating countries worldwide.

Criminal tax law requires the knowledge of tax law, including but not limited to the tax code and the correct assessment of economic relationships and operations. There is a thin line between tax optimisation and tax evasion, which is qualified as punishable offence. The revelation of the so called "Panama Papers" and "Paradise Papers" are prominent recent examples. As a result of this, companies and private individuals are being brought into the focus of tax investigation proceedings more frequently than before.

Our team of specialized attorneys supports our clients both preventively e.g. in the submission of subsequent declarations and voluntary reports as well as in the defense at all stages of tax, customs and administrative offence proceedings.

One main focus of our work is advising and defending our clients in cases of voluntary self-disclose with the objective to avoid penalty.

We provide services in tax criminal law across a range of matters, including:

• Advice on litigation and proceedings in the event of special and regular tax audits and revisions;

• Advice and support in self-disclosure matters for companies as well as private individuals;

• Legal disputes with tax, administrative and judicial authorities;

• Interdisciplinary linking of tax law and criminal law based on the cooperation with our colleagues in tax consulting;

• Criminal Defence.