It’s coming after all: German real estate transfer tax reform on so called “share deals” adopted today

With today's consent of the German Federal Council, the German real estate transfer tax (RETT) reform was passed with effect as of 1 July 2021. This will have a major impact on the transaction and structuring practice in the real estate sector. In addition to the decrease of the RETT relevant threshold from 95% to 90% and the increase of the RETT relevant observation periods from 5 years to (mainly) 10 years, the central point is primarily the introduction of a "transfer rule" also for real estate holding corporations. Under this rule, a 100% sale by a real estate holding corporation will in future, irrespective of the number of purchasers, be generally subject to RETT. Also for the banking sector, the RETT reform will lead to increased due diligence requirements for project financing and potential tax implications in an enforcement scenario.

In order to avoid RETT risks for companies of the relevant holding structure listed on a stock exchange, a "listing exemption" was fortunately introduced.

Read all about the background to the decision, the planned new regulations, the application regulations and an outlook in our Client Alert.