In-house tax development

Most of our tax leadership team have at one time or another served in-house, therefore we are acutely aware of the challenges that companies and tax directors have in building and developing their in-house tax departments.

From the initial development of the company’s function, its role and its position in relation to other departments, to the training of staff, and continued development of their knowledge and capability, Cragus believes in assisting their clients in their long term development. We also believe that industry can play a key role in shaping policy and working with tax authorities to influence how the legal and tax regulatory landscape evolves in the future for this generation and the next.

We advise companies on how to set-up their in-house tax function, including assisting them on tailored manuals and reporting lines; advising on personnel; updating tax departments on latest trends and issues (for example, BEPS, tax transparency and transfer pricing developments); advising on training needs and sharing our own experiences (for example, tax controversy); assisting them on how to deal with tax authorities in both setting up and maintaining a dialogue; and how to best influence policy on both a national and cross border basis.

In addition to assisting companies, we also work with tax authorities, advising them on their training and development needs, and helping them to stay ahead of the trends. Within our core leadership team we have particular experience with regard to international treaties; advising on double taxation treaties, in both their negotiation and implementation, and also in bilateral trade and investment treaties.

Very often young regional multinationals do not yet have an in-house tax department in place, so we are sometimes asked to serve as the outsourced tax director in the short to medium term. Additionally, many global multinationals, particularly since the financial crisis, are trying to both lower their costs in the region, whilst also ensuring that all tax strategy decisions are made back in the global head office; however, they are also acutely aware that they need someone with a high level of expertise and experience to be their eyes and ears locally. In these instances, Cragus can provide that resource, not just providing one adviser, but ensuring that several of its advisers are up to speed and ready to assist in order to provide consistent coverage in fulfilling the role of a MEA tax director.

Most of our tax leadership team have at one time or another served in-house, therefore we are acutely aware of the challenges that companies and tax directors have in building and developing their in-house tax departments.