Taxation

International Tax Compliance Advisory Services- An Overview

In today’s times, with ever-increasing compliances, it’s hard to manage and adhere to all the compliances, especially when it comes to the international level. Most taxpayers are unaware of the working and structure of international tax regimes, thus making it more confusing for them to get through the web of complicated international tax regimes.
International tax compliance advisory services are types of services provided by tax experts that help individuals and businesses to comply with the tax regulations across different countries. This article talks about everything related to international tax compliance advisory services, its importance, benefits etc.

What constitute International Tax Compliance Advisory Services

International tax compliance advisory services generally refer to the range of services that help individuals, organizations and businesses to comply with tax laws and regulations in different countries and jurisdictions. These services help clients to navigate through complicated and tedious international tax regimes in a better way, thus reducing the risks of non-compliance, penalties and audits.

There are many reasons why a taxpayer should avail of these compliance-related advisory services. Most of the time, an average taxpayer isn’t aware and is often unfamiliar with the international tax regime. Not complying with these laws can incur heavy penalties and fines. So to get through the web of the international tax regime, seeking the expertise of a professional international tax consultant becomes crucial. According to the Section 271GA of the Income tax Act of 1961^[1], if the taxpayer fails to furnish the documents regarding the International income, he shall be liable for a penalty of 2 per cent of the value of the International transactions.

Importance

International tax compliance advisory services are important for a plethora of reasons. These reasons are listed below:-

• Seeking the advice of an international tax consultant helps in avoiding hefty fines and penalties which can be incurred by not following international tax regime laws.
• International tax compliance advisory services can help individuals, organisations and businesses to structure their affairs in a more tax efficient manner, thus helping them in reducing tax liabilities.
• International Tax compliance advisory services also help individuals, businesses, and organisations understand the complex tax structure and regulations in different countries, thus ensuring that they pay the correct amount of tax while avoiding overpayment.
• International tax advisory services also minimise the risk of negative publicity of businesses or organisations and also help in protecting their reputation. It also helps businesses streamline their compliance processes, thus reducing the administrative burden of complying with multiple tax laws and regulations.
• International tax compliance advisory services help clients in staying updated with ever-changing and dynamic international tax regime compliances and also ensure that the businesses, organisations and individuals stay compliant with the latest regulations and laws.

Services Provided by the International Tax Advisors

International tax advisors or consultants provide variety of services related to tax planning, compliance and risk management for businesses and individuals. Some of these services are mentioned below:-

• International tax consultants help their clients in minimising their tax liability across different jurisdictions by identifying opportunities which helps in optimising their tax structure, including the use of tax treaties, transfer pricing and other tax-efficient structures.
• International tax advisors also help individuals living abroad in preparing and filling tax returns, managing foreign exchange and currency issues and also provide their clients advice related to residency and on various international tax treaties.
• They also help their clients in navigating through the tedious and complicated tax disputes. These include but not limited to the negotiation with the tax authorities on behalf of clients, managing audits, and providing advice on appeals and litigation.
• International Tax Compliance Advisory Services also include providing advice globally, including managing payroll and benefits, addressing the immigration concerns, visa issues, and also ensures adhering to compliances with tax and social security obligations.

These are some of the services that international tax advisors and consultants provide.

Benefits of International Tax Compliance Advisory Services

There are several benefits or advantages of seeking the advice from a professional international tax advisor or a consultant. These benefits are enlisted below in a thorough and detailed manner:-

• International tax advisors help their clients in better management of their taxes and ensures that the individuals, organisations and businesses are complying with the relevant tax laws and regulations in different jurisdictions.
• They also help individuals, businesses and organisations in minimising their tax liability which eventually helps them in significant tax savings. International tax advisors or consultants also help businesses, organisations and individuals to save time and resources by allowing them to focus on their core activities.
• Since international tax advisors possess in-depth and thorough knowledge of international tax laws and regulations, they help their clients streamline their resources in a better way and also ensure that the businesses and individuals receive the most up-to-date and accurate advice and support.
• International tax compliance consultant or advisors also provide advice to their clients on tax risk management. They help businesses identify and mitigating the potential tax risks, thus reducing the chances and likelihood of unexpected tax liabilities or other tax-related mishaps.

These are some of the benefits of hiring an international tax compliance expert or a consultant.

Conclusion

Overall. It can be concluded that international tax compliance advisory services are crucial for businesses, organisations and for individuals. They help individuals and businesses to stay compliant with the relevant laws and also helps them in reducing their overall tax liabilities and thus helping them in increasing their reputation and safeguarding them from any negative publicity.

Also Read:
A discourse on Corporate Tax Planning
How Does International Taxation Operate?
International tax planning strategies for Global Companies