Together with US partner firm Clark, Schaefer, Hackett (CSH), the Ypsilon Group combines its expertise in German and US tax law and shares valuable content and insights through this blog.
Well-founded. Practical. To the point.
US and German Tax Insights · in cooperation with Clark, Schaefer, Hackett
Our approach
Both German and US tax law are among the most complex in the world and increasingly relevant for investors and companies operating internationally. This is exactly where Ypsilon and CSH join forces.
Nina Schmidt, Partner at Ypsilon, will be on the ground in the US for one year starting in July 2026. Working side by side with CSH’s US tax experts, she creates a direct link between both firms, professionally and culturally.
The result is a continuous advisory channel across the Atlantic that combines both firms’ expertise in international tax law and shares it with you here.
These insights are valuable for German and American inbound and outbound investors and companies operating across borders.
Tax Basics
The fundamentals of German and US tax law, clearly explained.
Business Tax
For funds, companies and investment structures between Germany and the US.
Private Tax
Wealth, succession and private investments in a German-American context.
Cooperation
Behind the collaboration are two partners who combine their strengths into seamless, end-to-end advice.
Ypsilon contributes the German and European perspective, with more than 220 staff and over 55 qualified professionals across five locations, focused on financial services, alternative investments and corporate and private wealth.
CSH adds the full depth of US tax law, with more than 550 staff across ten locations in the US and India, founded in 1938 and ranked among the US top 70.
The result is practical advice that feels like a single source.
On the ground in the US
„To really understand both tax systems and how they interact, you have to know both sides first-hand. That’s exactly why I’m here on the ground.“
German Certified Tax Advisor · German Special Advisor in International Taxation
Nina is a Partner at Ypsilon and has advised clients in national and international tax law for more than ten years. Her focus is on venture capital and private equity, where she supports funds and their managers as well as the investors behind them. She assists with ongoing compliance and with structuring-related and organizational matters, all the way to administration and outsourcing. Her particular focus is on cross-border mandates connected to Germany and the US.
From July 2026, she’ll spend a full year in the US, working side by side with the tax specialists at CSH and deepening her US tax expertise. Alongside this, she sits the Special Enrollment Examination, the exam on the path to becoming an Enrolled Agent, the highest credential the US federal tax authority (the IRS) awards in the tax field.
During her time in the US, the posts on this blog are written together with her colleagues at CSH. Nina brings in the German perspective and translates US tax law for everyone operating between the two countries, both on the technical side and with an eye to markets, business culture, and practice.
Ypsilon is your advisor and long-term partner in the field of real estate investments. We advise investors and funds on the structuring of real estate investments, examine national and international structuring potential and plan successful exits. Drawing on our many years of experience, we are able to implement structures together with our clients and provide advice and support from the set-up to the exit. Specialist topics such as real estate transfer tax, land tax and the implications of the German Investment Tax Act are part of our range of services, along with the defense of structures in the context of appeal proceedings.
We consider ourselves to be the “guardians of real estate structures” and support our clients on a long-term basis.
In this respect, our top priorities are the goals and requirements of our clients as well as a holistic focus on real estate investments.
We support venture capital funds and their associated fund vehicles throughout their life cycle – from the start-up phase. to closings and ongoing investments, through to exits and the dissolution of the fund. We act as a long-term and reliable partner to both fund managers and stakeholders.
Whether it’s a first fund or an established follow-on fund: we will support you with the same expertise and care, establish efficient processes, coordinate with legal advisors, auditors, and other advisors in Germany and abroad, and take on central back-office responsibilities – so that you are able to focus fully on the fund management and your investment decisions.
Feel free to arrange a non-binding initial consultation to find out more about us.
Ypsilon is a leading advisor for investment companies and small/mid-cap funds. Unlike other firms, we focus on what we actually know how to do. And only on that.
On the basis of our specialization and our many years of experience in tax audits, we enjoy the utmost trust among initiators, investors and founders of funds. We have been supporting most of our clients since they launched their first fund. The private equity funds we manage now have an equity volume of 100-350 million euros. The investment companies we advise are either listed on the German stock exchange or form part of a large multi-family office.
We assume responsibility for the full range of tasks: from the tax structuring of the fund, tax-optimized company acquisitions, preparing the exit of a portfolio company and the tax-neutral reorganization of the acquired investment, through to regular tax compliance tasks, such as the preparation of annual financial statements and tax returns as well as providing support during tax audits.
Nina legt ihren Beratungsfokus auf die Bereiche Venture Capital und Private Equity. Sie unterstützt Managementgesellschaften und Fondsvehikel (darunter Feeder-, Carry- und SPV-Strukturen) bei der laufenden Compliance sowie strukturierungsnahen und organisatorischen Fragen – einschließlich Administration und Outsourcing-Lösungen. Einen besonderen Schwerpunkt legt sie auf grenzüberschreitende Mandate mit Bezügen zu Deutschland, Luxemburg und den USA.
Nina absolvierte ein duales Studium in der Finanzverwaltung NRW sowie ein Masterstudium im internationalen Steuerrecht an der Universität Hamburg. Sie ist Steuerberaterin und Fachberaterin für Internationales Steuerrecht. Vor ihrem Einstieg bei der Ypsilon Group arbeitete sie u.a. bei den Wirtschaftskanzleien YPOG und Flick Gocke Schaumburg.
Im Ranking 2025 wurde Nina vom Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit dem US-Verlag Best Lawyers in der Kategorie „Steuerrecht“ als eine der „Ones To Watch – Anwälte der Zukunft“ gelistet.
Keine
Dr. Raimund Behnes berät in‑ und ausländische Unternehmer und Unternehmen aller Rechtsformen zu Steuern und steuernahen Rechtsfragen, insbesondere zu Unternehmensstruktur und Finanzierung sowie in Sondersituationen wie Umstrukturierung, Unternehmenskäufen und bei grenzüberschreitenden Sachverhalten. Er begleitet Start‑ups in der Wachstumsphase sowie bei der Erfüllung laufender steuerlicher Pflichten, einschließlich Buchführung und steuerlicher Deklaration. Neben Unternehmen aus dem englischsprachigen Ausland betreut er insbesondere auch Unternehmen aus Frankreich.
Dr. Raimund Behnes hat zuvor bei internationalen Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaften sowie in einer internationalen Großkanzlei gearbeitet. Er ist vom Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers für Steuern empfohlen.
Keine
As an expert for Real Estate Investments, Ulrich advises International Investors, Initiator of Real Estate Funds and Family Offices on all tax aspects of their Real Estate Investment in Germany. His focus is on a holistic advisory approach that covers every aspect from initial investment to ongoing management and exit strategy. Furthermore, Ulrich advises clients in the area of Asset Management and Private Equity.
Before joining Ypsilon, Ulrich worked as tax adviser for a Big4-firm as well as for medium-sized advisory-firms, maintaining a strong focus on International Investors and Real Estate Investments. Ulrich holds a Master-Degree in business administration from the University of Mannheim and has gained international experience working in Luxembourg.
Investmentgesetze (Baur/Tappen/Mehrkhah)
Johannes has more than 25 years of experience in advising asset managers, investment funds, institutional investors and family offices in the field of alternative investments. He focuses on administration, taxation, regulatory compliance and outsourcing projects with a clear focus on real estate and private equity funds.
After starting his own business in 1996, Johannes co-founded the consulting firm optegra, which he developed as a partner and managing director in the field of alternative investments into a recognized and specialized consulting firm with around 150 employees. After the merger with the international Vistra Group in 2017, he headed the German Alternative Investment Services division there until December 2020.
Following a sabbatical, he is now accompanying the Ypsilon Group on its growth path as Managing Director and Partner.
As an experienced auditor and tax consultant, Stephan advises medium-sized entrepreneurs and their companies on challenging business and tax issues. From auditing and M&A projects to succession planning, Stephan is a generalist for the entire range of business management issues, usually with an international focus.
Stephan has been entrepreneurially active for many years as a partner and managing director of medium-sized, internationally oriented consulting organizations in auditing and tax consulting. As co-founder of Ypsilon, Stephan transferred his entrepreneurial activities to Ypsilon in 2021 and is responsible for a demanding international client portfolio.
As an auditor, Peter advises and audits banks, investment assets, leasing companies, and service companies on commercial and regulatory issues. He is also responsible for personnel at Ypsilon.
Before joining Ypsilon, Peter founded Millennium Partners WPG, focusing on international structures. It became part of the Ypsilon Group in January 2024. He worked as an auditor for EY and in KMPG’s Financial Service division, as well as for the medium-sized, international law firm Vistra (formerly optegra) as a partner and director.
Investment Laws (Baur/Tappen/Mehrkhah)
With his legal background and many years of experience in international corporate tax experience at Big Four firms, Martin is an all-rounder for consulting in tax law, and also works in other areas of law and transfer pricing.
Before joining Ypsilon, Martin founded FIDARIS in Düsseldorf together with Georg Keller and Stephan Lindermann, with the goal of successfully building on his 15 years of experience as a partner at Frankus (tax and legal). FIDARIS became part of the Ypsilon Group in January 2024. Through his international clientele, Martin has also acquired in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of the field of transfer pricing. After completing his two state exams in law and his doctorate, Martin spent eight years working as an authorized signatory in the area of international corporate tax at KPMG in Düsseldorf after qualifying as a tax consultant.
As an all-rounder for auditing and consulting, Mirko audits both German units of international corporations and German SMEs. He is also an expert on processes and information technology, especially for clients in the financial services industry.
In 2020, Mirko helped start the Ypsilon journey as one of its founding partners. After finishing university, he trained as a tax consultant and auditor, initially at optegra, the medium-sized law firm optegra. When optegra merged with Vistra, Vistra developed into a leading international law firm.
At Ypsilon, Maximilian and his team largely focus on the areas of private equity and corporate. Maximilian also advises funds, particularly in the fields of outsourcing and administration.
Before joining Ypsilon, Maximilian founded MILLENNIUM PARTNERS, which focused on closed-end fund structures and became part of the Ypsilon Group in January 2024. He previously worked as a lawyer at medium-sized international law firms, including Vistra.
As a specialist for closed-end fund structures, Björn advises both fund managers and initiators of private equity funds in all areas of commercial and tax law. Björn also supports our clients in the outsourcing of back and middle office functions and reporting.
Björn has been working in the field of closed-end fund structures for more than 20 years, during which he has also gained knowledge of other asset classes such as real estate, aircraft, and infrastructure, in addition to private equity. As a founding partner, Björn has been part of the Ypsilon Group since January 2021. He previously worked as a tax consultant and director in a medium-sized, internationally oriented law firm in Cologne.
As a specialist in closed-end fund structures, Tobias advises initiators of private equity and real estate funds on all aspects of tax law.
Tobias advises initiators of Private Equity and Real Estate Funds on all matters related to tax. Prior to joining Ypsilon, he founded the Millennium Partners together with Maximilian Kerndl in Munich with focus on Private Funds, which merged with Ypsilon in January 2024. Previously, he worked as a tax advisor for several medium-sized, international tax and audit firms such as optegra, Vistra and Acconsis as a Director and Managing Director. He studied business administration at University of Applied Sciences in Munich.
Our interdisciplinary team from the areas of tax consulting, auditing and business consulting supports you in understanding and implementing the legal ESG requirements with regard to ESG, CSRD and NFRD. Our approach is thorough: We conduct an in-depth analysis of your business processes and structures to develop a strategy that enables you to optimally meet the legal requirements.
The importance of payroll tax for companies stems, among other things, from the fact that in collecting payroll tax as one of the most important sources of tax of all (more than EUR 200 billion per year), the Treasury uses companies themselves as agents.Ostensibly, payroll tax appears to be a mere tax on the employee, which the company “only” withholds and transfers to the tax office. However, this is not the case if we take a closer look, as the company is significantly affected. Indeed, not only do companies have to carry out an immense administrative burden, which is not free of charge, when withholding and paying payroll tax, but they are also liable when mistakes are made. The result of all this is that payroll tax is increasingly becoming a kind of corporate tax. Targeted strategic and operational payroll tax advice helps companies to minimize tax and administrative burdens.
Moreover, payroll tax has repeatedly proved to be contentious, but this is not surprising on closer inspection. Tax arrears often place a considerable burden on companies, are always untimely and are therefore difficult to calculate. Many companies have no choice but to fight with the tax authorities or in court for their right to do so. In addition, tax authorities are increasingly making criminal tax allegations, making contentious disputes inevitable.
In day-to-day business, payroll tax advice is available by telephone and email. Through short communication channels, companies receive quick and up-to-date answers to operational payroll tax questions and concrete proposals for action as well as brief feedback on their own work results.
Strategic payroll tax issues are worked out in detail in writing and are intensively discussed in a personal interview. Practical assessments of complex individual topics are the main focus and are reflected in expert opinions.
Strategic and operational payroll tax advice creates added value for companies by
Companies based outside Germany that are expanding into Germany are guided by us through the administrative and legal requirements in all expansion phases. From hiring only one employee, to setting up a branch or subsidiary, to merging, selling or liquidating, we provide advice and assistance at all stages.
We accompany companies across borders and act as an interface with foreign consultants, service partners or other contact persons. Based on our many years of experience with companies coming to Germany from abroad, we know that “simple” things are complicated across borders. We bring this experience to the table when we support domestic companies in their expansion beyond Germany’s borders.
We offer solutions around the topics of restructuring, digitization, executive and team coaching and other transformation projects. By working together with us, you can be sure that your company not only meets current requirements, but is also prepared for what the future brings.
We believe that the issue of sustainability is fundamentally more than just compliance with legal requirements. The ESG criteria are good basic principles for responsible, smart and forward-looking corporate management and ensuring a healthy and sustainable life. The art is to integrate these principles in a meaningful, sensible and goal-oriented way.
The challenge of transformation lies in creating acceptance and commitment among all stakeholders and in agreeing on economic and sustainable goals of the company.
We are at your disposal for all legal questions. However, our focus is on business-related areas of law, in particular business law. Of course, tax law aspects are always taken into account. We accompany you from the establishment of a company, the choice of the right legal form, through the design or adaptation of company contracts, the drafting of employment contracts, right through to the planning and legal implementation of restructuring.
In specific areas such as patent law, industrial property rights, antitrust law, etc., we work with specialized cooperation partners in Germany and abroad.
Private-law mediation can help resolve long and costly conflicts. As experienced associates, we support the parties with targeted communication and structured procedures on the way to amicable conflict resolution in compliance with professional and methodological standards. Particularly in the case of family matters such as inheritance disputes or separation of marriages, individual solutions can thus often be found that are accepted by all involved.
As modern auditors, we offer you more than just an audit of your accounting system. Comprehensive, high-quality and forward-looking services in auditing must always also meet the demand for added value for the client: from brainstorming in difficult decision-making situations through investment analyses to audit services for voluntary or statutory financial statements.
Take advantage of our diversity and our independent feedback to achieve maximum security for your business decisions.
Accounting is the numerical backbone of a company. The information required for the management of the company is obtained here and the financial statements required under commercial and tax law are compiled on the basis of this information and data.
As an outsourcing partner, we take over partial areas or the entire accounting system, including payment transactions, dunning and management reports for our customers. In doing so, we integrate ourselves in the best possible way into the processes of your company up to integration into your accounting systems such as SAP, Navision, EXACT Online, SAGE, Addison, etc.
Our experience and specializations enable tailor-made tax advice. Consulting and preparation of tax returns are carried out under continuous coordination regarding risk assessment, obligations and monitoring of deadlines.
Of course, our tasks also include the monitoring of audits, tax law enforcement as well as the coordination of foreign tax advisors and the necessary FATCA/CRS compliance. Complex questions about inheritances or wills, succession regulations and gifts as well as general international tax law are also among our core competencies.
The interaction of German and foreign tax laws determines the setting of transfer prices for tax purposes; here, our tax advisors support you in the preparation of the transfer price documentation.
