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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Adrian Ball leads the reputable Ernst & Young tax team. One of the largest in Singapore, the team comprises 30 partners and directors and more than 400 tax professionals. The large team of experienced practitioners advises on all areas of tax and back ... [more]

Adrian Ball leads the reputable Ernst & Young tax team. One of the largest in Singapore, the team comprises 30 partners and directors and more than 400 tax professionals. The large team of experienced practitioners advises on all areas of tax and back that up with industry knowledge.

Two new partners joined the team in the past year, Shubhendu Misra and Matthew Andrew. Misra will be focusing on international tax and trade and Andrew joins the Asia Pacific Tax Efficient Supply Chain Management (TESCM) team, which advises clients on the tax implications of cross-border business restructuring.

The team is made up of notable individuals recognised by peers in the market. Tan Lee Khoon is considered by fellow practitioners to be one of the leading advisers on corporate tax, cross-border structuring and M&A matters. Kor Bing Keong is respected for his knowledge of indirect tax matters.

The firm has been increasingly involved in tax controversy matters, often opting for amicable resolution for their clients. Transfer pricing audits have been a particular focus for the tax authorities over the last year. Luis Coronado is the transfer pricing leader, working with clients to defend transfer pricing audits. As Singapore is a popular trading hub, the team has been engaged in many M&A transactions as well as applications for advanced pricing agreements (APA).

KPMG's tax practice focuses on assisting with their clients' tax compliance obligations, enhancing commercial value through tax planning, and incorporating tax strategies into an overall efficient business strategy. Tay Hong Beng leads the team of 19 ... [more]

KPMG's tax practice focuses on assisting with their clients' tax compliance obligations, enhancing commercial value through tax planning, and incorporating tax strategies into an overall efficient business strategy. Tay Hong Beng leads the team of 19 partners and 319 fee earners. The team advises on all areas of tax, though corporate tax and indirect tax are the two areas that they concentrate on.

Though tax controversy resolution services are offered, it is their smallest practice. Leung Yew Kwong is joining the practice to strengthen the tax dispute team. He is held in the highest regard by clients and practitioners alike, and is known for his meticulous interpretation of tax laws. His addition will attract long-standing clients to KPMG that have previously worked with him before, and reinforce the team's reputation. "He's very good in both indirect and direct tax, especially in stamp duty, GST and general indirect tax–he's the guru," said one client.

The Tax Institute is a new service offering that was launched in February 2012. Four key areas that the Tax Institute focuses on are: tax risk and dispute management, transfer pricing, indirect tax and tax incentives for innovation. This is designed to help chief financial officers and tax professionals stay up to date with tax issues.

The tax team at PwC works with MNCs, offering a full range of tax services ranging from compliance and monitoring assessments to mitigating tax risks. In the past year, the team has worked on more international tax, transfer pricing, and APA matters. ... [more]

The tax team at PwC works with MNCs, offering a full range of tax services ranging from compliance and monitoring assessments to mitigating tax risks. In the past year, the team has worked on more international tax, transfer pricing, and APA matters. Alan Ross leads the team of more than 400 tax practitioners.

The team has seen some key hires over the past year to strengthen its core team. Tan Ching Ne joined the team with 20 years of experience in the technology industry, including a spell at Microsoft in Asia, under her belt. Tan Ching Ne's experience encompasses income tax compliance, structuring, tax dispute resolution and negotiation of country tax incentives.

Tan Tay Lek has been promoted to partner and will continue to provide corporate and international tax advice to a range of clients including banks, private-equity firms, securities firms and treasury companies. Gavin Helmer's addition to the team will enhance its financial services work. Helmer's forte is transfer pricing, though he covers other areas such as compliance and structuring, too.

Allen & Gledhill's tax team is well known in the market for its skills in tax advisory and contentious work. Nand Singh Gandhi; Sunit Chhabra; Lim Pek Bur and Tang Siau Yan, the four partners, each advise on a spectrum of local tax. The practice ... [more]

Allen & Gledhill's tax team is well known in the market for its skills in tax advisory and contentious work. Nand Singh Gandhi; Sunit Chhabra; Lim Pek Bur and Tang Siau Yan, the four partners, each advise on a spectrum of local tax.

The practice has been particularly active in tax structuring work over the past year. They advised Temasek Financial (II) on establishing a $5 billion Euro-commercial paper programme (a short-term unsecured loan issued by a corporation in a currency other than the one in which the corporation operates in). This marked Temasek's first-ever such programme to be established by and more generally by a corporation in Singapore.

The team assisted Cheung Kong Bond Securities on the issuance of S$500 million ($401 million) of 5.12% Guaranteed Senior Perpetual Securities. The issuance raised several complicated issues in Singapore tax law, including whether the securities could be treated as debt for Singapore tax purposes and whether holders were eligible for the tax concessions for qualifying debt securities.

In the contentious area, the team were before the courts in various tax matters. This included successfully challenging the Comptroller of Income Tax's denial of a client's right to carry forward its unabsorbed losses and capital allowances due to a substantial change in shareholders.

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow's tax practice has gained a solid reputation in the market for its ability to handle tax advisory work and advocacy in the courts. The team is led by Edmund Leow, who is an experienced international tax and trade partner; ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow's tax practice has gained a solid reputation in the market for its ability to handle tax advisory work and advocacy in the courts. The team is led by Edmund Leow, who is an experienced international tax and trade partner; he is known among clients for his "strategic thinking on tax", said one client. "His advice is useful commercially, not just regarding the law," said another.

The team spends a lot of their time dealing with all kinds of corporate tax matters. Tax advice on private-wealth management has become more prominent in recent years because of the global demand for transparency. This is an area that the group is steadily expanding. Another area of growth has been in tax litigation where the group responds to taxpayers' increased willingness to take matters to the courts.

Leow and Allen Tan assisted a large software multinational on the tax aspects to do with its data centre operations in Singapore. The project involved obtaining a combined APA and ruling from the tax authorities, who agreed to lower transfer pricing mark-up and that the business in Singapore would not be considered a permanent establishment (PE).

Tan was promoted to partner from July 1 2012. He offers clients a diverse range of advice, including regional and local tax, as well as the ability, clients say, to put practical commercial elements into his tax solutions. Many clients commend him for his "professional expertise, responsiveness and knowledge of the market". "I can see how he works out a plan that suits the firm and also what we're looking for," said another.

The Deloitte tax practice is led by Ajit Prabhu. The R&D tax service is now established as an independent service offering. David Mumford was recruited to assist Hwee Chua Low, the R&D leader, to build their capabilities in this area.To advise clients ... [more]

The Deloitte tax practice is led by Ajit Prabhu. The R&D tax service is now established as an independent service offering. David Mumford was recruited to assist Hwee Chua Low, the R&D leader, to build their capabilities in this area.

To advise clients on the gradual enforcement from 2013 of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, Jim Calvin joined the team from the US to ensure information reporting technology, project management, and technical resources are properly supplied to clients during this preparation phase. Calvin is also the global tax leader for asset management.

Clients note the team's exceptional performance in indirect tax and international tax matters. In particular, Steve Towers, who is an international tax partner, is respected for his "global mindset and his advice is practical…Steve comes across as someone who knows business and has commercial flair, [he's] very experienced and knows how to link up foreign jurisdiction local tax laws".

Robert Tsang and Jiang Hai advised a prominent telecommunications infrastructure provider on its application for a ruling to refund overpaid GST in relation to its complex corporate structure. Tsang and Hai first had to tackle the complicated liability issues found in the client's transfer pricing methodology for telecommunications operators. After obtaining a ruling, the client requested a multimillion dollar GST refund from IRAS. The outcome was favourable and the client obtained a $1.6 million refund and a zero rating ruling on annual transactions of $48.2 million.

Drew & Napier is one of the leading law firms in Singapore with a highly accomplished tax practice led by Ong Sim Ho. He is supported by experienced practice leaders Ong Ken Loon and Seah Ching Ling. The team focuses on four main areas: tax disputes, ... [more]

Drew & Napier is one of the leading law firms in Singapore with a highly accomplished tax practice led by Ong Sim Ho. He is supported by experienced practice leaders Ong Ken Loon and Seah Ching Ling. The team focuses on four main areas: tax disputes, transactional advice, tax enterprise risk management and private client services. The team is highly thought of by clients who note their ability to "[look at issues from a] macro [perspective] and narrow into the issues." The group's advice is "practical and clear that actually applies to my situation; prompt even though we had a time difference".

The team has a particularly well-regarded tax disputes practice. Ong Sim Ho represented a real-estate investor who paid $181.68 million for an entire residential tower block comprising of 83 units. The contentious issue centered on whether the sale of 83 units should come under a single contract or 83 separate contracts. Ong Sim Ho successfully argued that the transaction should be construed as individual contracts thereby granting his client a $442,680 stamp duty discount as opposed to a $6.8 million liability. The ruling is viewed by those in the property industry as setting an important precedent for future buyers.

Ong Ken Loon is a well respected practitioner by the market. She was formally principal legal officer of IRAS. She is also well versed in goods and services tax issues and has contributed to the GST section of Halsbury's Laws of Singapore, a publication that is regularly consulted by legal practitioners.

RSM Chio Lim is one of the largest accounting firms in Singapore. Cindy Lim heads the international tax practice. She is supported by a team of tax professionals and director, Richard Ong, who specialises in tax compliance and due diligence work with ... [more]

RSM Chio Lim is one of the largest accounting firms in Singapore. Cindy Lim heads the international tax practice. She is supported by a team of tax professionals and director, Richard Ong, who specialises in tax compliance and due diligence work with an expertise in GST.

Lim and the team typically advise inbound and outbound investors on their international tax planning and fund advisory work. She is described by a client as "strong in estate planning". Over the past year, the team has added more clients, particularly multinational companies (MNC), perhaps because the global recession has meant clients are seeking affordable advisory firms of comparable quality to the bigger firms.

Paul Lee oversees the corporate tax and personal tax division, which offers a comprehensive range of local and international tax services.

One of the stronger law firms in Singapore, Wong Partnership's tax practice is rapidly building recognition for its advisory and litigation work. Tan Kay Kheng leads the firm's tax practice and is also a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution ... [more]

One of the stronger law firms in Singapore, Wong Partnership's tax practice is rapidly building recognition for its advisory and litigation work. Tan Kay Kheng leads the firm's tax practice and is also a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution group. Tan Kay Kheng represents clients in tax disputes before the authorities in addition to providing income tax, stamp duty, property tax and GST advice.

Tan Shao Tong is a partner of the tax practice who covers income tax, GST, stamp duty and property tax. Both practitioners are qualified lawyers and also experienced in handling matters that require accounting and valuation, providing their clients with a well rounded advice.

Tan Shao Tong successfully represented a manufacturing company in a highly publicised landmark case: ATG v The Comptroller of Income Tax. The question before the courts was essentially whether ATG's claim for capital allowances under the Income Tax Act should be allowed in regards to capital expenditure, that is, plant and machinery, incurred and used by its subcontractor. The tax authority's initial decision was to disallow the claims. The advisers successfully appealed this decision, the courts agreeing there was sufficient connection to establish that the capital expenditure was used for the purpose of ATG's business, and therefore the company should not be deprived from claiming capital allowances.

Velten Partners is an independent and specialist firm that only deals with Asia transfer pricing issues. Penelope Velten, who has 12 years of transfer pricing experience from various countries and big-four accounting firms, is the sole partner of the ... [more]

Velten Partners is an independent and specialist firm that only deals with Asia transfer pricing issues. Penelope Velten, who has 12 years of transfer pricing experience from various countries and big-four accounting firms, is the sole partner of the firm. She offers a personalised transfer pricing service that is catered to local and large multinational companies.

She advised a company with operations in Asia, Africa and Latin America on the development of a transfer pricing strategy including price setting, documentation and evidence gathering for the respective countries. The client required a transfer pricing approach that would satisfy the requirements applicable in various jurisdictions and to position it in a manner that would allow proactive defence of its transfer prices.