CANADA and germany – cross-border and current
Keep informed about current cross-border news relating to Canadian and German legal matters. We report on important cross-border developments in business, tax, real estate, probate and immigration policy in Canada and Germany to keep you up to date and alert you to matters affecting your business and personal interests.
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Office Closure at Year End
Our office will be closed from 24 December 2025 through 6 January 2026. Regular business operations will resume on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. Please note that we will not be able to respond to enquiries during this period.
Underused Housing Tax Eliminated
Canada Eliminates the Underused Housing Tax What German Owners of Canadian Property Need to Know: With the passage of the 2025 federal budget on November 17, 2025, the Canadian government has decided to suspend the Underused Housing Tax (UHT) starting with the 2025...
Canadian Inheritance Scam: Warning for Individuals in Germany
Fraudsters are contacting people in Germany with claims of a million‑dollar inheritance from a distant relative in Canada. Our German‑Canadian law firm explains how this scam works, why no real inheritance is involved, and what steps you should take to protect yourself.
How Canadian Estate Law Can Apply in Germany
One Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee with Will, Two Countries, and Seven Years of Litigation: How we achieved a legal precedent in a Cross-Border Estate Law Case Involving Canada At first, it looked like an isolated case: A German citizen living in Canada...
Capital Gains Tax Increase Halted – Assess Next Steps
In spring 2024, the Canadian federal government proposed an increase to the Capital Gains Inclusion Rate, raising it from 50% to 66.67%. The change was scheduled to take effect on June 25, 2024, and would have applied to capital gains over CAD 250,000 for individuals....
UHT for Canadian Property: Late Filing Now Triggering First Penalties
In the past year, several clients have turned to us for assistance in filing their Underused Housing Tax (UHT) returns only after the statutory deadline had already passed. In these cases, the delay mostly resulted from a misunderstanding—either of the tax’s scope or...
Litigation in Canada – Managing Legal Proceedings from Germany
Court procedures have evolved significantly since the pandemic, and Canada is no exception. Where in-person attendance was once mandatory, many hearings can now be conducted via Zoom. This shift offers practical advantages for German businesses and investors with...
REMINDER: Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Filing Deadline – April 30, 2025
The Canadian Underused Housing Tax (UHT) applies to foreign-owned residential properties and requires an annual tax filing. Even if an exemption applies, a timely submission is mandatory. The filing deadline for the 2024 tax year is April 30, 2025. If you require...
Immigration to Canada – Changes to Express Entry categories
The Express Entry program is the primary federal immigration program in Canada allowing foreign candidates to obtain permanent residence. Candidates are required to create a profile that is given a score based on specific factors. Those with the highest scores are...
Canadian Immigration: Key Changes Impacting 2025 and Beyond
Canada has introduced significant immigration policy changes in 2024 to balance demographic growth, economic needs, and the sustainability of the programs themselves. This now results in a reduction to the number of people accepted for various permanent and temporary...