Meridian Tax Advisors provides sophisticated international tax planning, transfer pricing, and cross-border transaction advisory to corporations, funds and high-net-worth individuals across 28 countries — from our base in the heart of Berlin.
From complex international structuring to day-to-day compliance, Meridian covers the full spectrum of international tax challenges faced by modern businesses and private clients.
We design efficient cross-border structures compliant with OECD BEPS guidelines, EU directives, and bilateral tax treaties — minimising effective tax rates while managing substance requirements and anti-avoidance risks.
Learn more →Comprehensive master file, local file, and country-by-country reporting (CbCR) documentation. We prepare and defend transfer pricing policies for intercompany transactions and advise on advance pricing agreements (APAs).
Learn more →Cross-border VAT compliance and advisory for goods, services, and digital transactions across EU member states and international jurisdictions. We handle VAT registrations, OSS/IOSS compliance, and VAT disputes.
Learn more →Tax due diligence for acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures across multiple jurisdictions. We identify tax risks, quantify exposures, and advise on deal structuring to protect buyers and maximise seller value.
Learn more →Representation in tax audits, objection proceedings, and litigation before German tax courts (Finanzgericht) and the Federal Tax Court (BFH). We also handle EU state aid investigations and mutual agreement procedures.
Learn more →Comprehensive tax advice for internationally mobile employees and executives: tax equalisation, shadow payroll, social security optimisation, cross-border commuter arrangements, and assignment policy development.
Learn more →International inheritance and gift tax planning for wealthy families with cross-border assets. We advise on structuring family assets, trust and foundation arrangements, and EU succession regulation matters.
Learn more →We combine the personal attention of a boutique practice with the technical depth and international reach of a major firm. Every client receives a dedicated partner and a team with specific expertise in their industry and jurisdictions.
A compact, senior team with extraordinary breadth of knowledge across international tax law, accounting, and economics.
Prof. Dr. Steinberg founded Meridian Tax Advisors in 2001 following an academic career at Humboldt University Berlin and Freie Universität, where he continues to lecture. He is a former advisor to the Federal Ministry of Finance on international tax matters and a recognised authority on OECD transfer pricing guidelines and EU tax harmonisation.
Laura joined Meridian in 2009 after seven years at a Big Four firm in Frankfurt and Munich. She leads the firm's VAT advisory practice and coordinates cross-border tax compliance for our largest multinational clients. She is a certified tax adviser (Steuerberaterin) and speaks fluent English, German, and French.
Marc specialises in tax dispute resolution and has appeared before the Bundesfinanzhof (BFH) on behalf of clients in landmark cases concerning permanent establishment and hybrid mismatches. Prior to joining Meridian in 2015, he worked as a tax inspector with the Finanzamt Berlin-Mitte.
We make international tax advisory straightforward — from initial briefing to final implementation and ongoing compliance monitoring.
We begin with a confidential introductory meeting to understand your business, tax profile, key jurisdictions, and strategic objectives. No charge for initial consultations.
Our team conducts a thorough analysis of the applicable tax rules across all relevant jurisdictions, identifying risks, obligations, and planning opportunities under current law.
We present clear, actionable recommendations with detailed technical memoranda. We explain trade-offs, quantify savings, and help you make fully informed decisions.
We support the execution of agreed structures, handle regulatory filings, coordinate with local counsel in other jurisdictions, and monitor for legislative changes that may affect your position.
Meridian has built long-term relationships with clients across Europe and beyond. Here is a selection of their experiences.
Prof. Steinberg and his team restructured our group's European holding arrangements and delivered a reduction in our effective tax rate that we would not have thought achievable. Their command of both German and EU tax law is exceptional.
Meridian guided us through a complex cross-border acquisition involving four jurisdictions in under six weeks. Their transfer pricing analysis and deal structuring advice saved us significantly on day one. Highly recommended for any international transaction.
We had a long-running VAT dispute with the German tax authority. Marc Hoffmann took on the case and resolved it through an objection proceeding in a matter of months — a matter we had feared would reach the BFH. Decisive, knowledgeable, and excellent value.
Common questions about international tax advisory and working with Meridian.
If your business has operations, revenue, employees, assets, or shareholders in more than one country, you almost certainly have international tax considerations. Common triggers include: holding companies in multiple jurisdictions, intercompany payments for goods or services, employees working across borders, cross-border acquisitions or disposals, and dividends or royalties flowing between related entities. We offer a complimentary initial consultation to assess your situation.
The OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project and its successor Pillar Two (Global Minimum Tax) represent the most significant overhaul of international tax rules in decades. Pillar Two, now being implemented across EU member states including Germany, introduces a 15% global minimum effective tax rate for multinational groups with revenues above €750 million. We advise clients on assessing their exposure, modelling the impact of top-up taxes, and restructuring if appropriate.
Under German law (§ 90 AO), companies engaged in cross-border intercompany transactions must prepare contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation. For groups meeting the Pillar Two threshold, CbCR is mandatory. The required documentation consists of a Master File (global overview), Local File (Germany-specific analysis), and Country-by-Country Report. We prepare and update these documents annually and align them with current OECD guidelines and German-specific requirements.
Yes. We represent clients throughout the German tax audit process (Betriebsprüfung), from initial contact with the Finanzamt through to formal objection proceedings (Einspruchsverfahren) and, if necessary, litigation before the Finanzgericht or Bundesfinanzhof. Our team includes former tax authority officials who understand the auditors' approach and can respond effectively to their inquiries.
We work both directly with corporate and private clients and as specialist tax counsel alongside general commercial law firms and accounting firms. We regularly act as expert tax advisors in transactions managed by M&A lawyers or investment banks, contributing focused international tax analysis while the lead advisor manages the broader deal. We are happy to discuss referral and co-advisory arrangements.
Our initial consultation is complimentary and without obligation. We are happy to meet in person at our Berlin office, by video call, or at your premises.