Frequently Asked Questions
Answering before the question arises.
The most frequently asked topics — answered clearly and directly.
Answers to the questions clients ask most frequently
Collaboration & Process
What does the first step look like after submitting an inquiry?
Upon receipt of an inquiry, Appelt & Wieland will check whether the firm has the capacity and professional specialization to accept the mandate. Feedback will be provided as promptly as possible. If a collaboration is not possible, we will attempt to suggest suitable alternatives.
Is there a dedicated contact person?
At Appelt & Wieland, there is a designated contact person for every client engagement. Depending on the scope of services, different contact persons may be responsible for different areas—such as annual financial statements, tax consulting, financial accounting, or payroll accounting. Personal support through dedicated contact partners is a core feature of the firm.
What happens if a contact person changes?
The law firm places great value on long-term employment relationships — many employees have been part of the team for years or even decades. This ensures a high level of continuity. Furthermore, a consistent digital knowledge management system has been established, ensuring that client-specific knowledge is not tied to single individuals. Should a staff change occur, no significant friction losses arise.
How quickly can I expect a response?
Inquiries are processed as quickly as possible. Since each inquiry is reviewed individually — especially in the case of more complex mandates such as GmbH consulting, startup tax law, or inheritance tax — it can take up to ten business days in some cases to receive a qualified response.
Is the law firm still accepting new clients?
There is no general suspension of new client intake. Appelt & Wieland handles matters for startups & tech, digital SMEs, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as individuals. For each inquiry, we assess whether the firm is the right fit in terms of both expertise and capacity.
How does the process of switching from another tax advisor work?
Ideally, the previous firm also works with DATEV — which is the case for the majority of German tax advisors. In this case, a data transfer can be handled relatively easily. Appelt & Wieland actively supports this process.
How complicated is it to change tax advisors?
Changing tax advisors is generally not an disproportionately complex process — especially if both firms use DATEV. If a different system is used, individual components must be checked. With sufficient lead time and good planning, any transition is easily manageable.
When is the best time to change tax advisors?
From a professional perspective, the turn of the year is the ideal time. In this regard, it is often recommended that the previous firm completes ongoing work before the mandate is handed over. A change during the year is possible, but requires careful coordination.
Does the law firm also handle communication with the tax office?
Yes — Appelt & Wieland handles communication with the tax office by default. As a rule, the firm is provided with a power of attorney for tax representation, which means that all correspondence from the tax office is received directly by the firm, processed there, and forwarded digitally to the client. Upon request, support for tax audits as well as audits by the German Pension Insurance can also be provided.