Tax mistake gives german developers millions

A tax error has potentially gifted German developers with millions. The country passed a law four years ago to ensure that property developers paid a different level of tax to the tax office from that paid by self-builders not intending to re-sell the finished property. Since then, though, the Federal Court of Justice has declared such differentiation illegal, which means that the amount has be refunded, including 6 per cent interest.

Tax professor Frank Hechtner tells Suddetsche (translated by OPP Connect) that it could be as much as €100 million.