做国际上的税收筹划
International tax planning
Tax planning in the international context calls for effectively planning for the management of taxation arising in a number of jurisdictions. Businesses operating in several countries need to understand the nuances of all the relevant taxation rules, laws and procedures. At the same time, they need to structure their business operations in such a way as to minimize any potential tax liabilities.
Tax planning requires businesses to have a sufficient knowledge base of all the relevant taxation rules and regulations, not only of the country in which they operate, but also of other countries in which they have presence. In addition, tax planning requires staying abreast of the latest tax changes to take advantage of any new monetary benefits and relief schemes.
When operating across multiple countries, companies need to be mindful of the various double taxation treaties in effect. Double taxation is the situation whereby one company’s income or profits are taxed in two different countries. In such cases, companies are often able to claim relief for taxation already paid by taking advantage of the relief provisions of the relevant double taxation treaty.
In the international context, businesses can also look to the use of offshore financial centers for their tax planning strategies. Offshore jurisdictions offer a range of low tax or even zero tax regimes, which can be utilized when structuring a business’s international operations. However, businesses must also be mindful of any potential tax evasion implications they may face when using offshore centers.
Transfer pricing is another common tax optimisation strategy used in international tax planning. Transfer pricing involves the pricing of goods and services, including intangible assets, traded between different entities of the same multinational. Transfer pricing strategies are designed to reduce any potential profits generated in higher-tax countries and may be looked to by businesses that are looking to minimise their corporate tax liabilities.
Businesses operating internationally are also required to comply with an ever-changing set of reporting requirements in the various countries in which they have a presence. As such, they must always ensure that their operations stay within the parameters of any applicable tax reporting requirements. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties which could potentially be much worse than any taxes saved through tax optimisation strategies.
Finally, businesses should be aware of and comply with all relevant anti-avoidance measures that might apply to their operations. Such anti-avoidance requirements are in place to prevent businesses from entering into or benefiting from tax avoidance schemes, and can include such steps as disclosing the true ownership of assets, claiming the correct amount of expenses, and disclosing any losses.
