“Taxing Germany” — out now

How history, federalism and everyday life shaped Europe’s most intricate tax system.

Anyone who has tried to run a business in Germany has met the tax system before they understood it. This book is the missing explanation — not a how-to filing manual, but the story of why German tax looks the way it does, and how that shapes the daily reality of operating here.

What it covers

• Why federalism splits taxing power across the federal government, the Länder and municipalities — and why your effective rate depends on where you sit.
• How history and social consensus built a system that prizes thoroughness over simplicity.
• The everyday texture: VAT, trade tax, payroll and the rhythm of the German tax year.

Who it’s for

Foreign founders, finance leads and market-entry teams who want to understand the logic behind the rules before they meet them at the desk of a Steuerberater.