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1. Tax Return: 2026 Is Just Around the Corner – File Your Voluntary 2021 Tax Return Now and Benefit It feels like 2025 has only just begun, yet the end of the year is already fast approaching.Anyone who was not required to file a tax return for 2021 and has also not submitted a voluntary return should act quickly. The reason is simple: any tax refund for 2021 will be forfeited if the return has not been submitted to the tax office by 31 December, 2025. Applying for a favourable tax assessment under Section 32d (6) of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) after that date will not help. A taxpayer recently learned this the hard way before the German Federal Fiscal Court (BFH). The Assessment Period for Voluntary Tax Returns The tax office may only issue a tax assessment if the relevant assessment period (Festsetzungsfrist) has not yet expired. Once this period ends, the tax claim itself lapses (§ 47 German Fiscal Code – AO). As a result, any tax assessments issued after the expiration of the assessment period are unlawful (though not void) and may be challenged by filing a timely objection. Under § 169(2) no. 2 AO,

October 1, 2025 HLS Global Expands to Singapore  Tokyo, Japan / Singapore – HLS Global Co., Ltd. (“HLS Global”), a leading international accounting, taxation and business advisory firm, today announced the expansion of its global presence to Singapore by establishing its new subsidiary, HLS GLOBAL SEA PTE. LTD. (“HLS SG”), in Singapore. This expansion underscores HLS Global’s commitment to serving multinational companies across Southeast Asia. HLS SG will focus on providing a comprehensive range of services, including accounting, audit, tax, due diligence, post-merger support, ESG advisory, CFO services, and financial digital transformation.

1. Capital Expenditures that Constitute Acquisition Costs: Example of a Condominium According to Section 6 (1) No. 1a of the Income Tax Act (EStG), expenses are reclassified as production costs if, within three years of the acquisition of the building, repair and modernization measures are carried out whose net expenses exceed 15% of the acquisition costs of the building. The expenses are then not deductible immediately, but only through the depreciation of the building. In the case of a condominium, two special features must be taken into account, as pointed out by the Hessian Fiscal Court.

Tokyo, Japan / Dubai, UAE – HLS Global Co., Ltd. (“HLS Global”), a leading international accounting, taxation and business advisory firm, is pleased to announce the expansion of its global presence to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by incorporating its subsidiary company, HLSGL Management Consultancies LLC, in Dubai (hereinafter referred as “HLS-Global UAE”). The establishment of HLS-Global UAE marks a significant milestone in the firm’s commitment to serving Japanese and multinational companies in the region with excellence.

1. Partial Income Method Can Enable Deduction of Income-Related Expenses for Capital Income Capital gains are generally subject to a flat-rate withholding tax without deduction of income-related expenses. Shareholders with a material interest can opt for the partial income method for their dividends, in which case costs are deductible. According to the Federal Fiscal Court, an initially admissible application does not lose its five-year effect if the requirements are no longer met later.

In Japan, there is currently a heated debate over the so-called JPY1.03 million barrier, and an increase in the basic deduction amount is being considered. However, in Germany, an increase in the basic deduction amount from 2025 has already been agreed upon by the government.

ASTHOM Partners Collaborates to Strengthen Support for Japanese Companies Globally 法人名 ASTHOM PARTNERS 株式会社  本社所在地 100-0004 東京都千代田区大手町 1-9-5 大手町フィナンシャルシティノースタワー24 階 代表者 虷澤篤志、齋藤俊輔  設立 2022 年 12 月  株式会社 AGS コンサルティングと Hotta Liesenberg Saito LLP の共同出資により設立。  資本金 1,000 万円  事業内容 企業の商標権、著作権、特許権等の知的財産権の取得、管理およびコンサルティング業務等 Web サイト https://asthom.co.jp/ 

Working from home does not only save time to commute to work but also saves your tax. From 2023, employees can deduct up to €1,260 per year for working from home in their income tax returns even though they have an alternative workplace at their employer’s premises. A daily allowance of €6 per day can be claimed for a maximum of 210 days per year regardless of whether work is done at home at the kitchen table or at a desk. However, the lump sum is only available for days on which you spend more than half of your working time in your home office and do not visit a primary place of work outside your home. Nevertheless, if these conditions are met, employees may also attend appointments away from home in between their working hours at home. For example, if an employee works at home for five hours and has a business meeting outside the company for two hours in the afternoon, they can still claim the daily allowance of €6 for this day.