Tax Administration

Tax Internal Controls in an Era of Transparency and Disclosure
SOX404, ASC 740, and PCAOB may seem easily managed but pose significant risks if not closely monitored

To meet the demands of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, audit firms continue to increase activity related to internal controls. So, what’s the big deal? Let’s look at some numbers: tax accounting was the second leading cause of 2016 financial restatements; in 2016, ninety-eight percent of financial restatements were… Read more »

Pros and Cons of Voluntarily Disclosing Past Wrongs
To disclose or not to disclose, that is the question

Hamlet’s thoughts weighed heavily upon him. Should he suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against a sea of troubles? For the young Prince of Denmark seeking to avenge his father’s death, the choice was action or inaction, and ultimately life or death. Fortunately, most tax… Read more »

Proposed Related-Party Debt vs. Equity Regulations: Section 385 — Reactions and Practical Responses
The proposed rules ignore commercial realities, create a bias toward third-party borrowing and equity investments, and mandate significant reporting obligations — but what can taxpayers do?

The proposed regulations ignore the commercial realities of doing business in a global economy. They create a bias toward third-party borrowing and equity investments in lieu of intercompany debt. If finalized in their current form, the proposed regulations will force companies to choose inefficient mechanisms for financing their operations and… Read more »

Trends and Developments in Canadian Tax Controversy and Jurisprudence
Transfer pricing issues, increases in voluntary disclosures, and procedural disputes are among major developments, but what will happen in 2016 — and beyond?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) continues to employ a risk-based approach when auditing large corporate taxpayers, focusing on high-risk areas such as aggressive tax avoidance and international tax planning. Information-gathering involves the use of written requests and requirement letters to routinely attempt to compel delivery of taxpayer information. However, the… Read more »

The OECD’s BEPS Final Report

Part I: Introduction and Background 15 Actions, Dozens of Questions Maybe the anticipation didn’t reach that of ardent fans waiting for the trailer to the next Star Wars movie. And maybe it didn’t rival that of passionate followers of Harry Potter breathlessly lining up at midnight to make sure they… Read more »

The Trials and Tribulations of the Family Office
Get ready to deal with the trappings of wealth and leveraging the next generation’s tax exemptions

If you’re a veteran family office adviser, you’ve spent decades working with the family’s estate-planning counsel to ensure that wealth is passed to succeeding generations as tax efficiently as possible. You faithfully oversee the implementation of annual exclusion gifts, intrafamily loans, and rolling grantor-retained annuity trust (GRAT) programs, and you… Read more »

How To Bind Without Getting in One: Avoiding Controversy Over Signature Authority Issues

It’s late in the day. After weeks of review, it’s time to file an entity classification election for an entity in your company’s structure. The election is due today. You have already carefully analyzed the ramifications of the election. Form 8832 has been drafted, reviewed, and approved. All that is… Read more »

Transfer Pricing: Are We in a Global Tax War?
Expect Controversy To Heat Up in Light of BEPS

Transfer pricing. This is one of the most complex and controversial areas of corporate tax, occupying considerable time and energy on the part of many of TEI’s members, especially in the last twelve months. What exactly is transfer pricing? According to Mike Patton and Eric Ryan, partners at the law… Read more »