The KGaA is a composite legal form. The KG forms the framework with a natural person as general partner. However, so-called limited partners take the place of the limited partners. Therefore, it is not assigned to the group of partnerships, but systematically assigned to corporations by §§ 278 ff. AktG.
The KGaA is also assigned to corporations for tax purposes. According to § 1 I No. 1 KStG, it is one of the companies that are subject to unlimited corporation tax. The profit share (if this is not attributable to the share capital) as well as remuneration of the KGaA to the general partner are not subject to corporation tax at the level of the company according to § 9 I No. 1 KStG, but are paid to the general partner as income from commercial operations according to § 15 I. No. 3 EStG.
This is treated like a co-entrepreneur. In addition to the corporation tax, the KGaA as a commercial enterprise is also subject to the trade tax by virtue of its legal form (cf. § 2 II GewStG). For business taxation, the amounts deducted from the corporation tax for the personally liable partner are added back in accordance with § 8 No. 4 GewStG. In the case of dividend distributions, the limited partners are subject to the income tax; they achieve income from capital assets i. S. d. § 20 EStG, provided that they hold the limited partnership shares in their private assets.
Erbschaftsteuerlich ist die auf das Grundkapital entfallende Vermögenseinlage des Komplementärs privilegiert. Hier bildet der anteilige, Einheitswert des Betriebsvermögens der KGaA die Bemessungsgrundlage für die Steuer. Hidden reserves und Ertragsaussichten werden bei der Bewertung der Erbschaft- und Schenkungsteuer folglich nicht berücksichtigt.
Anders bei den Kommanditaktien: Hier bemisst sich die Inheritance tax nach dem gemeinen Wert. Dieser entspricht bei Aktien gem. § 11 I BewG dem weit höheren aktuellen Börsenkurs. Bei der KGaA kann ein Generationswechsel erbschaftsteuerlich optimal gestaltet werden.
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