Many actual or potential tax problems ultimately turn on the strength of the real time evidence: recording what you are doing, where in the world you are doing it, and why you are doing it in the first place. Other problems will turn on whether the formal assessments have been raised or claims have been made on time, on whether the tax authority has the legal power to call for documents, or whether the tax authority has acted lawfully and reasonably in making a particular decision. It is much more than doing technical analysis and presenting tax technical arguments.
Whilst every problem is different, each one needs a realistic and an unvarnished analysis of the relative strengths and weaknesses, a clear strategy that provides the framework to solving the problem and a comprehensive plan that guides the taxpayer through the steps to resolution.
PwC’s multi-disciplinary team of tax and commercial litigation lawyers, tax advisers and senior ex-tax authority officials is uniquely positioned to give you clear, straight-talking and robust legal and tax advice to help you achieve the best possible outcome - including helping you prevent the problem happening in the first place.
Understanding how tax authorities and the courts tend to approach particular tax problems, and being realistic about the relative strengths and weaknesses of any particular issue for both the taxpayer and the tax authority, means the merits of your case get the best chance of success. It also means you get the best possible legal and tax advice and support to help you avoid the tax problem arising in the first place.
This is as important when you are applying for a tax clearance, responding to tax authority correspondence or negotiating with a tax authority, as when you are going through alternative dispute resolution or heading towards litigation. The ability to communicate effectively with revenue authorities and other decision-makers is critical - and this means understanding their perspective.
We are uniquely positioned to help you both solve existing tax problems and help prevent new ones arising. We have a multidisciplinary, worldwide, team of practising solicitors and barristers, tax advisers, accountants, economists and experts in risk and technology, fully integrated with our long-established team of ex-tax authority senior officials.
In the UK, we have over 90 people focussed on providing contentious tax advice, negotiating with tax authorities, and leading alternative dispute resolution and litigation. This includes 26 partners and directors, and 15 experienced commercial and regulatory litigators adding to our capabilities and experience. Globally, we have over 500 PwC professionals focussed on contentious tax advice, tax negotiations and settlements, and dispute resolution including litigation. Many more of our client cases settle on positive terms (including through mediation and other alternative dispute resolution) than go to litigation, but we represent clients from the First-tier Tribunal to the Supreme Court, the Commercial Court, the Administrative Court. We cover all taxes (direct, indirect, personal, environmental, excise, duties and customs).
Our legal advice to you (on tax and wider legal issues) can be given under legal professional privilege.
We are particularly noted for our expertise in international and multi-jurisdictional matters, which is enhanced by knowledge sharing and collaboration across PwC’s global legal network, the largest of its kind.
As well as working on our complex tax cases, our Commercial Disputes team are able to help you with everything from contractual disputes, professional negligence claims, investor/shareholder disputes, partnership disputes to civil fraud claims which frequently involve risk and reputation management concerns.
We regularly carry out complex and multi-jurisdictional internal investigations into a wide variety of tax, commercial and regulatory matters, working closely with colleagues around the world. This includes potential financial crime and money laundering matters. We are particularly experienced in investigating internal policy breaches, with a focus on helping to protect your company’s reputation at a time of increased scrutiny from regulators, both domestic and global.
Our range of experience is extensive and includes:
Legal Tax Disputes Leader, Tax Partner and Solicitor, Listed and Inbound Tax, PwC United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)7715 705102
