Entries by Ester Hahn

THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS RULED: THE RESTRICTION OF “PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT” BY THE FEDERAL LABOR COURT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE GERMAN CONSTITUTION

The years of criticism of the case law of the 7th Senate of the Federal Labor Court [Bundesarbeitsgericht – BAG] by the Regional Labor Courts and the literature have shown their effect: On 6 June 2018, the Federal Constitutional Court [Bundesverfassungsgericht – BVerfG] overruled the BAG’s previous case law on the prohibition of pre-employment in the case of unfounded time limits, leaving legal uncertainty behind. The three-year limit developed and applied by the BAG contradicts the Constitution, according to the BVerfG.

EVERGREEN: HOLDING COMPANIES AND INPUT TAX DEDUCTION

There is hardly another topic which is monitored in tax audits as closely as the entitlement to input tax deduction for holding companies. The following article illustrates what has to be taken into account and shows which possibilities in terms of structure may potentially arise for the companies concerned.

NO ENTRY OF A GBR AFTER CHANGE OF LEGAL FORM FROM A GMBH

If a limited liability company is transformed into a company constituted under Civil Law, the question arises, whether it is required to enter the GbR and its shareholders into the commercial register. In practice, such entries have continuously been made, however, the Federal Court of Justice has now negated the necessity of entry. In the same case, it also had to decide on the liability consequences arising from a possibly incorrect entry that had been made.

GIFT TAX ON HIDDEN PROFIT DISTRIBUTIONS – DOUBLE BURDEN OF INCOME AND GIFT TAX?

Notwithstanding an earlier statement, the Federal Fiscal Court decided in three rulings that excessive payments of remuneration by a limited liability company to an affiliated person of a shareholder are to be recorded for income but not for gift tax purposes. Nevertheless, a double tax burden cannot be ruled out, since the BFH does not exclude a generous donation in the relationship between the shareholder and his affiliated person.

BGH ON THE DETERMINATION OF INSOLVENCY: LIABILITIES II MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

The Federal Court of Justice has ruled that when determining insolvency, the liabilities (Liabilities II) that fall due within the three-week period after the reporting date must also be taken into account. Furthermore, the decision specifies the considerable evidence and presentation requirements for managing directors of a limited liability company who is being claimed by the insolvency administrator because of the initiation of payments after insolvency maturity.

A FINAL DEFAULT OF A SHAREHOLDER LOAN MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS A LOSS ON INCOME FROM CAPITAL ASSETS – THIS IS WHAT SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE

The Federal Court of Finance assed an interesting decision (file no. VIII R 13/15), regarding the decision of the BFH (file no. IX R 36/15) in Q4: Accordingly, the final default of a loan leads to a loss recognized for tax purposes which must be taken into account on income from capital assets. It can be assumed that this also applies to shareholder loans and a shareholder may even benefit from a higher tax recognition than with a consideration as subsequent acquisition costs.

DOES THE GERMAN TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT ACT [“ARBEITNEHMERÜBERLASSUNGSGESETZ” – AÜG] APPLY TO MANAGING DIRECTORS?

According to the unanimous view in the literature on the AÜG, provisions under the AÜG are not applicable to managing directors. The Higher Social Court of Berlin-Brandenburg recently ruled that managing directors are subject to a statutory pension insurance due to an unauthorized temporary employment in accordance with the AÜG. Therefore, the question arises, whether and to what extent an employment of a managing director can nonetheless be affected by the AÜG.

FURNISHING OF UPSTREAM SECURITIES – HERE IS WHAT MANAGING DIRECTORS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO

The Federal Court of Justice [Bundesgerichtshof – BGH] commented on the admissibility of the furnishing of securities granted by companies in favor of their shareholders and on the so-called capital maintenance rules in AGs [Aktiengesellschaft – stock corporation] and GmbHs [Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – limited liability companies]. Capital maintenance rules have an “indirect” effect […]

COMPLIANCE CLAUSES WITHIN SUPPLY CHAINS

Compliance clauses are nowadays a standard component of many (framework) supply agreements between companies. When introducing these clauses into contract negotiations, they are often extremely one-sided and present a high risk for the clause addressee. The following article demonstrates approaches and arguments which can help to achieve a proper limitation of a compliance clause.