Endless rules: When has compliance gone too far?
You know how it is: you actually just want to do something very simple, such as make a purchase, take a decision or complete a task. But before you can get started, you have to fill in a form. After that, you’re supposed to obtain approval. And then you’re also expected to document that the approval has been granted in the correct manner.
OECD meeting in Paris: What the Pillar 2 and AI declarations mean for businesses
The plenary meeting of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS took place in Paris from 28 to 30 October 2026. Among other things, the participating countries discussed simpler rules for the global minimum tax (Pillar 2) and the potential applications of AI in tax administration. But what do the statements from the meeting mean for businesses?
DSFinV-K 3.0: New requirements for point-of-sale systems – what businesses need to know now
In a letter dated 26 October 2026, the Federal Ministry of Finance revised the application circular relating to Section 146a of the German Fiscal Code (AO). This is primarily due to the introduction of version 3.0 of the Tax Administration’s Digital Interface for Point-of-Sale Systems (DSFinV-K). These new administrative regulations will, in principle, apply from 1 January 2029.
Tax compliance and small and medium-sized enterprises: Is the legislator out of touch with reality?
Last week, I spoke to tax adviser Torsten Stockem, a partner at the law firm Energiesozietät, about Section 38 of the EGAO. The law has been in place for several years now and deals with the trialling of alternative audit methods. During our conversation, Torsten and I realised that there are many fascinating aspects surrounding the law and the section in question.
First build a risk-control matrix in Excel, then look for software – how daft is that?
Open Excel, pop in the risks, add the controls. Specify a probability of occurrence from 1 to 5, then the potential loss. Then quickly throw in a formula for the risk score, add some traffic-light colours, and your ‘ICS light’ is ready. Or ‘TCMS light’. Or is it? This is how many managers in companies think. It sounds pragmatic, but it often isn’t. Because this doesn’t just create a list. It already defines structures, assessment criteria, responsibilities and working methods.
TCMS Talk with Torsten Stockem: the biggest misconception about AI in tax compliance
Last Wednesday, on our programme „hsp live at 11“, I spoke with Torsten Stockem, a tax adviser and partner at the firm Energiesozietät, about the opportunities offered by AI in TCMS. The discussion centred on the wide range of opportunities that the use of AI tools offers professionals when setting up and maintaining a tax compliance management system.
Tax Compliance with AI: How artificial intelligence supports an effective TCMS
To many companies, a Tax Compliance Management System – or TCMS for short – initially sounds like extra paperwork, consultancy costs and new obligations. Where should one start? Who is responsible for setting it up? And how can this be managed at all alongside day-to-day business operations?
Why many people want to know where a corporation makes its money and where it pays tax
We’re all familiar with them: multinational corporations. They sell products in Germany, operate a company in France, employ staff in Spain, have a branch in Ireland, and run further companies here and there outside the EU. At the end of the year, we look at their annual report and find out: what was the turnover? How much profit was made?
From a missing key to perfect process documentation?
Did you know that virtually every child can demonstrate just how important it is to keep an up-to-date record of what happens? This is exactly what happened to a colleague who couldn’t find his keys one morning. Hadn’t he put his bunch of keys on the shelf in the hall the night before, as usual?
How tax firms are helping their clients go digital – and reaping the benefits themselves
Anyone working in the field of tax consultancy today has been experiencing a noticeable shift over the past few years. This is not just down to the wave of digitalisation that swept through Germany during the pandemic. The requirements of many clients are also changing. At a time when many software providers and app developers are automating repetitive tax and accounting tasks, companies expect more from a tax consultancy.
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