Broker fraud or tax evasion?

But why did he then offer us to do the cash without tax if no tax is due anyway?

Because the good man still has to pay several thousand euros in income tax. 42% if he works somewhere else as well. Privately, only €9,860 end up in his pocket instead of €17,000 black money. That already makes a difference.

Probably it’s not worth doing anything and just paying.

Give up and pay at €20,000? I would never do that with brokers who do nothing but cash in anyway. Due to the lack of a cancellation policy, I would revoke. Just strange why you drew up the contract... no idea how that should be interpreted.

As I said, take your time to check all options and ignore the 2-day payment deadline!! First ask for his broker license according to paragraph 34c of the Trade Regulation Act. Check his tax number.

We are now just very puzzled about the tax and do not understand it at all.

Well, that no VAT applies to you anyway, you wouldn’t have noticed. But he would have saved a huge chunk of his own taxes.

Have you received a cancellation policy? If not, cancel now and save €20,000. I would go through with it relentlessly.

So when we bought a house, there was nothing about [Makler] in the notary contract ... the seller had also commissioned him, of course as a buyer you do not even have the commission contract. This is extremely cheeky what he is doing and unfortunately drags honest people in this business through the mud.

You have picked out a form and presented it to him? I would have found that extremely strange. And if you have 7% including VAT stated, then he should also be able to show this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that at least everything is fine with the house. To me, it all sounds very dubious.

I have the following suspicion: Official appearance through a legal form (probably GmbH). Please take a look at the homepage in the [Impressum]. Besides that, he often tries to run the whole thing completely under the table for certain transactions. Saves him VAT and income tax or corporate tax. For one case per year (previously up to 17,500, now 22,000 euros), he runs it through himself as a natural person. Saves him at least the VAT amounting to 3,000 euros. And that even completely legally; that’s why he gave you an official invoice referring to 19 [UStG].