INTERNATIONAL & FRENCH-GERMAN REPRESENTATION

International representation is in our DNA

INTERNATIONAL

International work is part of our DNA. We have developed a particular expertise with German-speaking countries. But our expertise is much broader and may cover all jurisdictions. 

Indeed, we always deal with the case from the perspective of French law, but with a particular outlook, since it incorporates the legislation of one or more other states.

On a daily basis, we deal with issues of territoriality in terms of taxation of results, income and assets, as well as value added tax (VAT).

We deal with the taxation of private individuals’ income, but also of their assets or in the event of inheritance or donation.
Should the beneficiary or heir reside in France or the property transferred be located in France, the inheritance or gift will be taxable in France.

For companies, the international dimension is even more pressing, since any company of a certain size, even if not established in another country, sells goods or offers services beyond its borders. This raises the issue of tax territoriality.

As soon as your international activity expands, the issue of the existence of a permanent establishment in the State of activity will inevitably arise and will even be decisive for the taxation of profits in that State, but also of any employees seconded to that State.

Finally, in the case of international groups, questions will regularly arise as to the allocation of the tax base and therefore the setting of transfer prices.

EXAMPLES OF INTERVENTIONS

  • Avoidance of double taxation in corporate, income or wealth-tax matters

  • Structuring international activities in order to reduce the tax burden, within the frameworks set by national and international legislations

  • Structuring of foreign investments in France

  • Reorganization of foreign groups’ French subsidiaries

  • Analysis of flows and services with regard to VAT Territoriality rules

  • Assistance in VAT refunds to foreign taxable persons

  • Management of transfer pricing issues both in terms of pricing and preparation of the required documentation

  • Assistance in tax audits and litigation, either through traditional channels (administrative appeals and before national courts) or through specific procedures for the prevention of double taxation (amicable procedures and arbitration procedures) provided for in bilateral tax treaties and in some international standards

  • Procedures for the refund of withholding taxes and tax flows optimization

  • Assistance to French groups in their investments abroad in collaboration with local colleagues

  • Planning inheritance transfers to minimize the impact of taxes, which are often higher in France than abroad

  • Counseling of impatriates or expatriates

FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS

While international representation is everyday practice at ITRS Avocat, Franco-German relations or, more generally, relations with German-speaking countries have pride of place.

Indeed, this dual Franco-German identity is one of ITRS Avocat’s foundations.

Each of our members is fluent in French and German and can therefore conduct business in their client’s mother tongue.

GENUINE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GERMAN-SPEAKING WORLD

In addition to language fluency, our knowledge of the German-speaking world ensures greater awareness of your specific problems or needs, and therefore greater responsiveness to your expectations.

Our experience acquired in Germany, on the ground or through exchanges with our clients and foreign colleagues, means we have gained a thorough understanding of the German tax system in order to better direct our advice.

In the context of consultations covering both jurisdictions or to accompany a French operator abroad, we rely on our worldwide contacts network and particularly in Germany, German Switzerland or Austria.

EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK

  • Recurrent assistance to numerous German groups’ subsidiaries and branches, or more widely from the German-speaking world (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, etc.)

  • Assistance to German residents investing or operating in France

  • Settlement of double taxation issues at both the declaratory and contentious stages

  • Settlement of international succession cases.