Indirect taxes: Overview

Any business buying, selling, investing or employing staff in one or more countries is confronted with indirect taxes. Globally, governments are increasingly imposing indirect taxes: sales taxes, general services tax, business tax, VAT, customs duties, energy taxes, environmental taxes, excises etc.

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New regulatory challenges arise further to Sarbanes-Oxley and similar rules in other jurisdictions. Unless you manage indirect taxes, your profitability will decrease whilst working capital requirements (cash flow) and risks increase.

If you need:
  • Information on rules, rates and jurisprudence (European Court of Justice or national courts).
  • An indirect tax strategy that manages the impact of these taxes on your financials, risk portfolio and organisation.
  • Support when expanding globally, (re)structuring, listing on capital markets, M&A.
  • To set up, automate and digitise your indirect tax compliance.
  • Support with indirect tax inspections and litigation.
  • To monitor policy developments (e.g., OECD, EU, WTO, WCO, GATT and national governments).
  • To define responsibilities, key performance indicators and reporting lines for indirect taxes.
  • To network with peers in your industry.

The PwC advantage


We have an extensive global network of indirect tax professionals and have strong relationships with tax authorities and policy makers.

We take a multi-disciplinary approach to indirect taxes, integrating with our specialist industry networks. We have dedicated teams to co-ordinate our global client service and commit to execution within agreed timeframes. We use technology to deliver and connect with our customers. Our global indirect tax services include:
  • Up-to-date information, publications and books via GlobalVATOnline.
  • Advice on strategy, structuring and planning to mitigate indirect tax costs / risks.
  • Advice on compliance and reporting including outsourcing of compliance.
  • Advice on automation and digitisation using tax engines, ERP, e-invoicing, e-archiving and e-filing.
  • Support with internal controls, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 reviews and indirect tax risk management.
  • Assistance with negotiations with tax authorities, obtaining rulings and litigation.
  • Conferences, training and access to the European indirect tax group (EiTG).