Major subject: Taxation I and II

Relevant in all business contexts and an excellent foundation for a varied, future-proof career.

Taxes play a central role in almost every aspect of life and the economy. They influence business decisions as well as investment, innovation and social developments. Anyone who understands taxes understands the economy and can play an active part in shaping it.

Whether it is starting a business, growth, international expansion or succession: tax issues are an integral part of strategic business decisions. Typical areas of application include, for example:

• Choosing a legal form when setting up a business
• Investment and financing decisions
• Corporate restructuring
• Acquisitions and disposals of businesses
• International expansion
• Succession and wealth planning

Tax expertise enables you not only to support these processes, but also to actively shape them. The Tax specialisation offers you the opportunity to specialise in a field that is technically challenging, socially relevant and in high demand in the professional world.

The combination of the two core modules, Taxation I and Taxation II, provides a comprehensive overview of taxation: from the fundamentals of corporate taxation, through international and legal-form-specific issues, to procedural law, restructuring and inheritance tax, as well as practically-oriented tax advice.

If you are aiming for a career in tax consultancy or in a company’s tax department, taking Tax I and Tax II is the ideal way to prepare. You will gain in-depth specialist knowledge of taxation and learn how to analyse, communicate and address tax issues in a practical context.

Tax I also provides a valuable introduction when taken alongside another major subject, particularly in combination with Accounting or Finance. However, anyone wishing to build up a clear profile of tax expertise and position themselves professionally in the field of tax consultancy or tax management should take both modules within this major subject.

Through the ‘Taxation I’ and ‘Taxation II’ modules, you will develop into a qualified junior tax professional with a profile that is in high demand both nationally and internationally. Tax experts work in tax consultancy, auditing and management consultancy, as well as in corporate tax departments, finance and accounting, structuring and transaction advisory services, or in the field of investigating white-collar crime.

One particularly attractive career path is that of a tax adviser. Tax consultancy is not simply a matter of filling in forms; it involves guiding business decisions, developing solutions, and advising clients over the long term whilst supporting them on their journey.

Tax advisers are often the first point of contact for business leaders, family-run businesses, start-up founders and private individuals with complex tax issues. Among other things, they provide advice on:

• Business start-ups and development
• Choosing the right legal form
• Investment and financing decisions
• Restructuring and business succession
• Tax audits and disputes with the tax authorities
• international business activities
• Wealth and Succession Planning

This means the profession is closely linked to business decisions, to people and to corporate responsibility. It combines in-depth specialist knowledge with consultancy, communication and long-term, trust-based client relationships.

At the same time, this career path offers excellent prospects for development: whether employed by a law firm, a large consultancy or audit firm, a company, or working independently with your own practice. Depending on your area of specialisation and employer, flexible working arrangements, specialisations and part-time opportunities are a realistic possibility.

The traditional route into the profession involves gaining practical work experience and passing the tax adviser examination. The Tax specialism provides an important technical foundation for this. Students who take both modules of the specialism whilst still at university will enter their future professional practice and begin their preparation for the professional examination with a significantly better understanding of key tax issues.

The fields of the future are also diverse: digitalisation, tax technology, artificial intelligence, data-driven audit approaches and forensic services are transforming tax practice. Tax experts are also increasingly shaping, identifying and analysing tax risks and complex economic issues.

Taxation is far more than just a technical field. It forms the financial basis for government action and has a direct impact on education and research, infrastructure, healthcare, climate action and social justice.

The design of tax systems influences economic behaviour, investment incentives and social developments. A sound understanding of taxation enables you to contextualise political and social debates, reflect on them critically and play a responsible role in shaping them.

This major subject provides a sound yet practical understanding of the taxation of businesses and individuals, as well as transfer duties.

Taxation I: Fundamentals and Classification

You will gain a broad foundation with wide-ranging applications in, amongst other things:

• Tax balance sheet, trade tax and IFRS (ST.1)
• Taxation of Legal Forms (ST.2)
• International Aspects of Corporate Taxation (ST.3)

This material provides a solid foundation for many areas of business administration and, at the same time, forms the basis for in-depth major subject in Taxation II.

Taxation II: Advanced Topics, Taxation Procedures & Advisory Practice

In Taxation II, you will apply your knowledge more extensively and build on it through practically-oriented case studies drawn from tax consultancy and planning. This makes Taxation II particularly important for anyone who not only wishes to understand tax matters but also to handle and communicate them confidently in their future professional practice.

Among other things, they deal with:

• The German Fiscal Code and application-oriented case studies (ST.4)
• Conversion tax and inheritance tax (ST.5)
• Tax Consultancy in Practice (ST.6)