Tax services www.keypoint.com
Keypoint is one of the GCC s most comprehensive providers of business advisory services. Our services - including accounting solutions, statutory & corporate advisory, investment administration & share registry services, trust services, IT consulting, tax services, human capital solutions, management consulting and financial regulatory compliance advisory - are valued by a wide range of clients, from large multinationals and financial services institutions to family-managed conglomerates and small and mediumsized enterprises.
Tax services Keypoint s tax team helps key decision makers across the GCC understand the impact that taxes have on businesses and their stakeholders, as well as ways to optimise their tax liabilities. Our tax team advises on a range of tax issues, including VAT; local, regional and international taxation; mergers and acquisitions; and transfer pricing. Our team offers relevant regional and sector experience and have a Big 4 professional services background. Combining over 50 years of tax experience, gained working in Bahrain, across the GCC, in Malaysia, Europe, New Zealand, Pakistan, the European Union, South Africa and in Australia, our team has advised business and organisations across industry sectors. With VAT the most immediate tax challenge, our market-leading tax consultants help businesses understand the challenges of VAT, assess the impact of those challenges, explain how systems and processes need to change, check compliance with national legislation, and help businesses pay and claim the right amount of VAT at the right time. By getting this right, businesses are more likely to be able to generate VAT efficiencies, minimise the risk of VAT becoming a cost and are less likely to incur damage to either their reputation or their finances. Our services As well as VAT advisory and compliance, we utilise our in-depth industry knowledge to provide clients with a range of effective tax solutions, including: Tax structuring Tax due diligence Tax compliance and registration International tax Transfer pricing Dispute resolution VAT advisory & compliance Since July 2017, our specialist VAT team has completed over 150 VAT implementation engagements, working on sectors from insurance and financial services to automotive and oil field services in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Our standard approach assess the impact of VAT, design systems to mitigate that impact, implement the new systems and comply with national and regional legislation has helped key decision makers at a range of leading businesses understand the challenges and opportunities that a paradigm shift like VAT can represent. 1 3
Tax structuring As the tax picture evolves across the GCC, it is crucial that investors both current and potential consider the tax implications of the decisions they make - such as transfer taxes, VAT recovery, financing structures and transfer pricing regulations. It is equally important that exit strategies are thought through at the investment phase. Our tax professionals help clients shape the immediate and long-term tax impact of acquisitions and dispositions and understanding potential tax risks and benefits associated with a specific transaction, bearing in mind commercial considerations. Tax due diligence Tax is an important element of any M&A transaction and can affect potential investment decisions. Our tax due diligence teams analyse and quantify tax risks and opportunities and identify potential costs, contingencies and commitments, helping businesses make informed investment decisions. Tax compliance & registration As GCC economies mature and governments look to reduce their reliance on hydrocarbons, there will be an increasing expectation that companies not only pay, but are seen to pay, the correct levels of tax. In Western economies, tax compliance has become an increasing priority for many leading companies, often in response to media and activist questions. Our teams of tax consultants, armed with an in-depth knowledge of local, regional and international legislation, can help companies remain compliant with an increasingly complicated regulatory environment. International tax As the GCC and global economies become increasingly aligned, with GCC investors looking overseas and overseas investors on the lookout for growth opportunities in a relatively new marketplace, tax advisors need to offer an increasingly international perspective. Our tax professionals offer services that help companies working across borders to align their tax strategies with their business objectives, providing a comprehensive range of inbound and outbound tax services. Transfer pricing As governments around the world begin to implement a number of global initiatives (such as the OECD s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting [BEPS] initiative), it is crucial to consider how these might affect a company s current tax position. Transfer pricing how transactions between enterprises under common ownership or control are priced is an important matter for any business operating across borders. Keypoint s tax specialists can advise businesses on related-party and cross-border transactions, helping businesses comply with transfer pricing regulations. Dispute resolution Disputes with the tax authorities are likely to become increasingly common as governments look to increase tax revenue. Our experienced dispute resolution professionals work across the dispute resolution process, from protecting against disputes through to dispute resolution. We work with clients to reduce the likelihood of a dispute and where an issue develops into a dispute work efficiently and effectively with clients to help resolve disputes. 4
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Our people The key source of our strength is our people. Our team is committed to quality client service, providing timely and accurate responses and solutions to any given scenario. Senior members of our tax services team include: Mubeen Khadir Senior Director mubeen.khadir@keypoint.com +973 1720 6879 Mubeen, a corporate and tax lawyer, has advised clients in the Middle East and Australia for over 15 years. Before being appointed Head of Tax for Keypoint, he worked with both 'Big 4' professional services firms and top tier legal firms. He has led over 150 VAT engagements - including VAT implementation, advisory and compliance - for UAE, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini businesses. George Campbell Associate Director george.campbell@keypoint.com +973 1720 6872 George, a VAT technical expert who has been based in the region for the last two years, is one of a very small number of chartered tax advisers (CTA [UK]) currently working in the GCC. He is recognised as a leading VAT advisor to the banking and automotive sectors, helping a range of businesses prepare for a new tax era. His experience as a tax advisor, combined with his legal experience, empowers him to provide commercially focused, valued-adding tax advice, offering practical solutions to complex tax issues. Mubeen's particular industry focus areas include Islamic and conventional financial services, diverse family business groups and oil & gas. Mubeen is acknowledged as a trusted advisor in the GCC and has spoken widely on both direct tax and indirect tax at national and regional events. 3 6
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