Fundamentals of Business Taxation
Component code / course code:
Semester: winter / summer
ECTS credits: 5
Lecture hours per week (SWS): 4
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Girlich
Course Language: German / English
Prerequisites: A sound knowledge of accounting as well as basic knowledge of company and civil law is required. Module 07 "Accounting" should therefore have been successfully completed.
Objectives (Learning Outcome): Through case studies, students will be able to understand the main tax implications of setting up, operating and terminating entrepreneurial activities, as well as finding cost-optimal solutions.
Lecture topics (content):
- First, the main features of income tax law (income tax, corporate tax, trade tax) and turnover tax law as well as tax procedural law are presented. The focus is then on the tax assessments of an entrepreneurial activity and the comparison of tax burdens between the individual legal forms.
- Forms of profit determination
- Taxation of commercial sole proprietorships and differentiation from freelance activity and pure asset management
- Taxation of corporations with a focus on the relationship between shareholder and company (including hidden contributions, hidden profit distributions) and the treatment of distributions by the shareholders.
- Taxation of partnerships with special regard to the transparency principle
- Basic features of the corporate tax option model
- Treatment of cross-border business activities
- Tax consequences of the termination of business activities (inter alia, sale of business, liquidation of a corporation)
Teaching format (e.g. online/in person lecture/Seminar/Lab etc.): Introductory lecture and consolidation through literature study; case study
Examination type: Written Exam
