Indirect tax disputes

Indirect taxes—be they sales taxes, general services taxes, business taxes, VAT, customs duties, energy taxes, environmental taxes, excises, to cite a few variations—are notoriously complicated financial devices. And they are made even more so by virtue of their use world-wide. VAT, for example, is now deployed in some 120-plus countries around the world; and territorial variants of other indirect tax forms are almost too numerous to list. Little wonder then, that indirect tax disputes emerge in almost as many forms as there are forms of indirect taxation. What’s more, the parties to such disputes may include foreign companies with which you do business, their particular tax and customs authorities, even your own country’s tax control bodies. Unfortunately, the issues that such disagreements bring to the surface are almost always complex, difficult to negotiate, and often highly contentiousness. And make no mistake: no company is immune; every business organisation is vulnerable. Which is why, if you are subject to indirect taxes—and who isn’t, to be honest?—you need a dynamic and effective outside partner who can help you manage the business risks these disputes create.

If this is your situation

• Your company's market valuation is being steadily eroded as a result of lengthy dispute with the tax authorities regarding duties they claim you owe. You disagree—and you need outside help.
• Your indirect tax returns are being questioned by the government and you require help preparing them accurately.
• You discover that goods you are importing into another country are in violation its quota regimes and you need help negotiating the amount of duty being levied.
• You believe that you new company’s supplies are VAT-taxable (thus recoverable), but the authorities tell you that this not always case. You need outside help to resolve the situation.
• You have been told by the custom & excise authorities of a country in which you do business that your company has been evading taxes by claiming duty suspensions to which it is not entitled. You need reliable outside counsel.
• Your manufacturing company has been informed by the local tax authorities that it must pay duties, even though you contend that your final products are re-exported (which, technically, entitles you to relief, since such items are not duty-liable).
• You need to develop a compliance-sensitive indirect tax management system that will help you avoid future disputes with the authorities.

How PwC can help you

At PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) we can offer you the advice and counsel of over 350 tax professionals, worldwide, in all major trade areas and countries—as well as the services of more than 100 committed customs & international trade specialists, available throughout the EU. Whatever the nature of the indirect tax dispute in which you find yourself, we can help you resolve it satisfactorily, and provide on-going assistance to prevent future occurrences. For instance, should your dispute involve legal action, we have the means to review all relevant contracts, and, should the need arise, undertake appeal procedures on your behalf. We can also work on your behalf, both in the EU and abroad, with all levels of government and can deploy a comprehensive range of lobbying services should you require them. And, to help you anticipate, and plan for, future disputes (should they arise) our IT services can design and implement custom-built, totally automated customs systems. In the same vein, we can assist you in all aspects of logistical planning—via simplified customs procedures—as well as risk planning, procedural analysis, and audits/reviews. In fact, whether you’re now embroiled in a tax dispute, or you just want to avoid one in the future, we can help. Just call us.