. . Germany - the taxman cometh

[BrilloPad]

3757 now.

Inattention to details. That's how you get screwed by the tax authorities.

[gremlin]

I had a visit from the German Tax Man at my old address in Germany a few weeks ago. I left Germany and deregistered back in early 2008 but that didnt stop them from trying to gain access. I am sitting tight and waiting to hear from them. And yes Mr H was my accountant. I am assuming they have taken all files and will be working their way through his client list.

[xiao147]

Fortunately, in the UK, it doesn't work like that!

I would love to know how it does work!

I think for most people, having some problems with the authorities is one thing, having your parents also involved is quite another. Its not the sort of thing most people would want other family members to know about at all.

I wonder if they would try and contact the person through Mr H?

[xiao147]

I had a visit from the German Tax Man at my old address in Germany a few weeks ago. I left Germany and deregistered back in early 2008 but that didnt stop them from trying to gain access. I am sitting tight and waiting to hear from them. And yes Mr H was my accountant. I am assuming they have taken all files and will be working their way through his client list.

In Germany, don't most people live in blocks of flats where you have one entrance with a whole bunch of named bells? If they turned up at someone's old address, they'd probably not find that person's name and so that person would not know they'd visited.

Once they pay the visit, does that mean its already too late to do the self-accusation?

[LegendsWear7]

I had a visit from the German Tax Man at my old address in Germany a few weeks ago. I left Germany and deregistered back in early 2008 but that didnt stop them from trying to gain access. I am sitting tight and waiting to hear from them. And yes Mr H was my accountant. I am assuming they have taken all files and will be working their way through his client list.

I'm in Hessen. Paying up this week.
Would be extremely useful if posters indicate their state. Each Finanzamt will pursue its own tactics.

[BlasterBates]

From what I've and experience from other contrcactors. First of all there is a "Steuerfahndung", then you get faced with a bill and maybe a fine and then you pay. If there is a fine whatever you do pay that one, otherwise you may end up in jail. Otherwise the usual siezure of assets and a signature that you don't have anything.

If you go back to the UK they'll try and track you down, usually by contacting the UK tax authorities. Then they chase you up through the UK courts.

My advice is to have a Steuerberater and legal representation, to make sure you don't end up with a huge fine as well as back tax.

[xiao147]

My advice is to have a Steuerberater and legal representation, to make sure you don't end up with a huge fine as well as back tax.

How do they calculate the fine? Is it simply a percentage of what they think you owe them?

[xiao147]

I'm in Hessen. Paying up this week.
Would be extremely useful if posters indicate their state. Each Finanzamt will pursue its own tactics.

Bayern

Does Mr H get told when one of his clients is under investigation? Would the authorities not ask him for the client's contact details (if they are struggling to get hold of the client themselves)?

[darmstadt]

I'm in Hessen. Paying up this week.
Would be extremely useful if posters indicate their state. Each Finanzamt will pursue its own tactics.

I'm in Hessen too but this doesn't affect me as I never used Mr. H. even though I did meet with him some years ago and wasn't too impressed. The Darmstadt Finanzamt tried to get me to pay Gewerbesteuer a couple of years ago but after a bit of to-and-froing of letters they dropped that. The last I heard was that I am currrently being investigated but this is just a routine matter which everyone goes through every few years. I just tell my accountant and she just gives them all the paperwork and so far haven't heard anything. (Funnily enough I'm now working at the Bundesfinanzministerium and Bundesfinanzamt along with some other Germany government institutions!)

[BlasterBates]

How do they calculate the fine? Is it simply a percentage of what they think you owe them?

I'm not sure but vaguely a doubling of the tax debt with fines and interest is I think what I saw.

The fines are avoidable if you cooperate, demonstrate innocence and report yourself to the authorities. That's why I recommend some sort of legal representation.