Practices / International Tax & Business Structuring
PRACTICES
International Tax & Business Structuring
SGS & Partners is a firm of chartered accountants advising companies, groups and private clients on international and corporate tax, and on the structuring of cross-border operations, investments and transactions. We work across the UK, Europe and the Gulf from offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Lugano and Dublin. Partners qualified in the jurisdictions where we practise handle cross-border matters directly, keeping the advice within one firm.
The work goes beyond standard UK compliance, connecting tax, corporate and cross-border matters.
Who we work with: Domestic and international companies, groups entering new markets or restructuring, investors, and private clients with income or assets in more than one country.
International tax advisory
We advise businesses and individuals operating across borders on permanent establishment risk, the application of double tax treaties, cross-border flows and inheritance matters. Advice covers planning, implementation and continuing support, so the position remains efficient and compliant as circumstances change.
Corporate tax advisory
We advise domestic and international companies on corporate structuring, group taxation, the use of losses and tax incentives such as R&D credits and investment allowances. The aim is a tax framework that supports growth, manages risk and complies with local and international rules.
Cross-border structuring
We design and implement structures for cross-border operations, investments and transactions, whether a business is entering a new market or restructuring existing operations.
Transfer pricing
We prepare transfer pricing analyses, policies and benchmarking studies, design intercompany arrangements and support clients in transfer pricing disputes. Where a group operates beyond our own offices, we work with the Horizon Consulting Network, of which SGS & Partners is a member.
VAT and value chain optimisation
We advise on VAT and on how a group’s supply chain and operating model are organised across jurisdictions, including cross-border tax risk assessments. The aim is a value chain that is compliant, transparent and efficient, with supplier and customer arrangements aligned.
Frequently asked questions
What is permanent establishment risk?
Permanent establishment risk is the risk that a company’s activity in another country, such as an office, local staff or someone signing contracts on its behalf, creates a taxable presence there. SGS & Partners assesses this risk for businesses operating across the UK, Europe and the Gulf and advises on how to manage it.
How can a company avoid being taxed twice on the same income?
Double taxation is usually relieved under the double tax treaty between the two countries, or through credit in one country for tax paid in the other. We advise on how treaties apply to a company’s cross-border income and structure.
What is transfer pricing and who needs it?
Transfer pricing sets the prices charged between companies in the same group for goods, services, loans or intellectual property. Tax authorities expect those prices to match what independent parties would agree, so groups with companies in more than one country usually need a transfer pricing policy and documentation. We prepare both and support clients in transfer pricing disputes.
Should a company expand abroad through a branch or a subsidiary?
It depends on the tax treatment in both countries, the liability the parent company is prepared to carry and how profits will be returned. A branch is part of the parent company, while a subsidiary is a separate company taxed in its own country. We compare the options and set up the structure chosen.
Which countries does SGS & Partners advise on for international tax?
SGS & Partners advises on tax across the UK, Europe and the Gulf, from offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Lugano and Dublin, with professionals working in English, Italian and Arabic.
