The Taxdoo Innovation Summit 3.0

Over 200 participants from the fields of tax consultancy, e-commerce, financial administration and associations from Hamburg met for the Taxdoo The high-calibre industry event brought together leading minds to discuss how technology - above all AI - can change the world of tax. The summit sees itself as a platform for substantial exchange beyond the usual buzzwords. fynax was at the start for you to experience new impulses at first hand.

Disruption as a driver of relevance

It was an intense day in Hamburg. Phlipp Klöckner (tech analyst and investor) kicked off the day as keynote speaker. Under the title "Beyond the AI Hype", he presented his vision of the future of e-commerce. His message: disruption is not optional, but a prerequisite for progress. Only those who embrace technological change will remain relevant and it is therefore important to accept and allow this. This is even more true in e-commerce than in other sectors. However, with regard to the hype surrounding AI, he points out: "We need to stop seeing AI as a magical solution - it is only as good as the data we give it." Of course, not everyone thinks the changes are good, but they are being dealt with openly and honestly. The willingness to try out new things clearly prevails.

With this in mind, AI was one of the dominant topics. The Taxdoo Innovation Summit 3.0 impressively demonstrated how it is already changing processes today - particularly in tax, financial accounting and auditing.

Exciting impulses and clear points of view

In other presentations and workshops, renowned speakers shed light on critical aspects of digitalization. Stefan Werner (tax auditor, lecturer - in a non-official capacity) outlined what external tax audits could look like in 2030 - data-driven, automated and more transparent.

In his workshop on 'AI use cases in the tax sector', Stefan Groß (tax consultant and Taxpunk) commented on the use of tools in law firms: "The future of tax advice does not lie in the tool, but in understanding the processes."

Innovative tools were presented such as:

PlaiGround (AI platform for taxes, finance and accounting)

NotebookLM (an AI-supported search tool)

Audipy (an analysis tool with AI support)

In her workshop on "E-commerce in third countries", Vanessa Schmidt (Senior Partner Manager at exporto) on how online retailers can expand into Europe's customs countries. With best practices for cross-border sales to Switzerland, Norway and the UK, she provided many tips for correct VAT registration and customs clearance.

The rapid development of platforms such as Temu or Shein was also critically examined. Many experts questioned whether German tax law can keep up with the speed of such business models. "Do they also pay taxes?" was a provocative question that was asked several times.

The evening program began with a boat trip. The dinner was followed by a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Volker Römermann (lawyer and "legal influencer" at LinkedIn) on tax advice in the private equity environment. "Disruption is not a breach of the law - but it forces us to rethink tax principles." He wanted to show that the industry is facing a paradigm shift that is calling traditional rules into question.

This was the starting signal for the end of the day. The evening was characterized by lively discussions and offered space to exchange different points of view on the presentations and workshops.

Recommendations for companies

In view of the developments outlined above, strategic guidelines have emerged:

- Actively integrate AI: Start with pilot projects, ensure data quality and promote employee training.

- Securing international e-commerce: digitizing processes for customs and tax, knowing registration obligations, selecting partners specifically.

- Tax protection for private equity: Recognize legal risks early on and seek external advice.

- Prepare for platform tax: Prepare accounting systems for new reporting obligations and clearly regulate responsibilities.

- Stay agile: Establish regular review processes and maintain an exchange with the industry.

Conclusion

The Taxdoo Innovation Summit 3.0 was not only a place for specialist knowledge, but also for controversial food for thought and visionary outlooks. The speakers impressed with their expertise, passion and openness. The exchange in the evening showed how lively and open to discussion the e-commerce tax tech community is. Even if not everyone is positive about digital change, there is an open attitude. Change is a reality, and those who are prepared to try something new will help shape the future of tax consulting. This is exactly what fynax stands for.