General Information & Basic Principles
With the „Property Tax“ module of our „Opti.Tax“ software“
Opti.Tax is not a stand-alone solution, but a platform for various topics in financial reporting and compliance documentation. Furthermore, our taxonomy-driven approach makes the ‘property tax’ project type dynamically available in Opti.Tax. If the tax authorities make any changes to the data structure, the taxonomy is regenerated, made available in Opti.Tax, and all users have the latest version ready for implementation in no time at all.
„Opti.Tax Grundsteuer“ is a software programme developed in-house by hsp.
The software has been available for use since its completion in early 2022.
The client runs via a web browser. We recommend using it on a PC or tablet; on a smartphone, the screen or resolution may be too small.
Please see our packages this overview.
The licence can be used for both. There is no limit on the number of users.
As a member of a tax advisers’ association or the IDW, you pay 29 EUR per month / 2.50 EUR per tax assessment notice sent. Alternatively, the pricing is 59 EUR per month / 5.00 EUR per tax assessment notice sent.
The contract term is 12 months.
No, unfortunately this option is not available.
In the hsp.community – accessible via the web or app – law firms receive, amongst other things,
-
- Checklists (What documents/papers are required, etc.)
- Process description (e.g. as a DATEV Procheck process)
- Various sample cover letters (drawn up by the hsp team and other law firms that share their own templates)
- Power of attorney template (drawn up by a solicitor)
- Engagement letter (drawn up by the solicitor)
- E-learning on law firm organisation as part of the Property Tax project
- E-learning course on the practical implementation of property tax: „What do I need to know about property tax to implement it correctly?“
- E-learning on how to use Opti.Tax
- Discussion forums for exchanging views with other law firms
Both. The consultant’s workplace is on-site; the platform for communicating with the client is online.
Interfaces & Integrations
This depends on the practice software used. With DATEV, for example, this includes DATEVconnect and, with the release of version 22.0 at the end of January, the DATEV Basisdaten Online interface as well.
Yes, Opti.Tax Property Tax has a DATEVconnect interface.
Yes, reading and writing.
Selectively, or alternatively via orders in EO Comfort or via the ‘Info’ section in the client information
Client master data, properties from the fixed assets/inventory list, income tax returns from the document repository/DMS
Yes, you can also use Opti.Tax Property Tax to prepare declarations for the assessment of the property tax value for agricultural and forestry businesses (Agriculture and Forestry Annex).
At present, the DATEV Basisdaten Online interface does not allow master data to be imported back. Via the DATEVconnect interface we use, this is possible for a very limited amount of data. The restriction to this limited amount of data is due to the DATEVconnect interface itself.
Yes, the Elster Rich Client is integrated. This is used to submit the tax returns.
Yes, that is possible.
Yes, via the DATEVconnect interface, we transfer the asset values to the order in EO comfort as order items. This is also supported by Wolters Kluwer’s law firm software (Addison, tse:net, etc.).
You can request assessed value notices via Opti.Tax.
There is no interface for retrieving this information from the authorities’ databases. However, Opti.Tax allows you to retrieve the documents from which the information can then be extracted.
Yes, for DATEV, Addison, BMD and SIMBA.
Workflow & File Management
When a client is set up in Opti.Tax Property Tax, they or their staff are invited via email. The client cannot open a project themselves initially.
Yes, you can upload both documents and image files.
Yes, that is possible.
This may vary depending on the type of property and the federal or state model. We have provided law firms with a checklist for the information of their clients.
Transfer of item values / notional item values for state-specific models to orders in EO Comfort as order lines
Import via interfaces to law firm software, extraction of data from PDF forms (Anlage-V, declaration of inheritance/gift) as well as CSV/XLS files, or access to database views.
Yes, this feature has also been incorporated.
Yes. Validation messages inform both the consultant and the client whether the data record is valid, whether any fields need to be completed, or whether certain fields have not been filled in correctly due to dependencies on other fields.
Yes, you can view the documents at any time.
Yes, this feature has been implemented.
Yes, the client is guided through the workflow.
The client works with the adviser and provides information and documents.
This can be done either by dragging and dropping or via the file selection dialogue.
Yes, both are possible.
Appendix V: Determination of the required value for a gift or inheritance
Yes. The client can set the frequency of notifications to suit their needs (immediately upon each event, every 4 hours as a summary message, etc.)
No, this is not yet possible. Whilst the feature is planned, there is currently no need for it amongst the more than 500 law firms that already use Opti.Tax for property tax matters, as the majority of them rely on flat-rate charges or valuation-based billing.
From the firm’s perspective, I can view the processing status via the project management system. The client can view the status of the relevant declarations of determination when the tasks are made available or a release request is submitted.
This has not yet been implemented, as the structure of the notices is not yet available. As soon as this is known, an automatic notice verification process will be implemented. When the assessment notice is submitted via ELSTER, an entry is made, for example, in DATEV Post, Deadlines and Notices. This ensures that the practice’s deadline management system is informed of the process.
Yes, whilst data is being entered, the user is guided in real time by entry prompts and is alerted if data is missing or inconsistent.
The notices are sent by post. At present, it is not possible to provide an email address for the tax authorities in the authorisation to receive correspondence.
Yes, there are. Both in the programme and in the hsp.community.
- Here, users can access e-learning courses on how to use the software and gain specialist knowledge on the federal and state models, as well as on agriculture and forestry.
- In addition, sample documents, powers of attorney, contracts, checklists, sample cover letters,
- Users actively engage with one another to clarify technical queries and to build and share knowledge collectively.
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm by telephone; also available outside core office hours Support via chat, via the web, via email.
Legal Information & Data Protection
In an SQL database within the law firm’s IT infrastructure
Data security is ensured by backing up the database as part of the nightly backup run for the firm’s systems.
In accordance with the applicable retention periods
This is ensured by hsp’s product management team (comprising the development and tax consultancy departments), distribution to customers via online updates, and the technical framework provided by the taxonomy.
Yes, the regulations for all 16 federal states are on file.
The law firm
Yes, the client is guided through the workflow.
All client master data and known assets/properties from fixed assets, Schedule V, and the determination of the required value (gift/inheritance) are imported from the practice management software. Further data can be imported from ALKIS (the land registry offices’ software) as well as industry-specific software (LAND-DATA, Hannibal, etc.).
The hsp team includes an external data protection officer and specialist solicitor in IT law, who, from his law firm, sets out all the processes within the software in accordance with the GDPR and other relevant regulations, specifies how these are to be implemented, and subsequently checks and approves the results.
The data remains within the firm’s IT infrastructure and can continue to be used for analysis and research purposes. The only restriction is that, following termination, it is no longer possible to create new projects.
Yes, the digital signature feature from d.velop Sign is integrated and can be used. The following types of signature are included:
- Advanced Seal Signature
- Qualified personal signature (meets the written form requirement)
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