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The comprehensive guide to the world's leading tax firms

Deloitte in Taiwan is bouncing back well from the global economic downturn, achieving double digit revenue growth in international tax, transfer pricing, and tax dispute work compared to last year. Al Chang heads the tax team of 20 partners and 320 fee ... [more]

Deloitte in Taiwan is bouncing back well from the global economic downturn, achieving double digit revenue growth in international tax, transfer pricing, and tax dispute work compared to last year. Al Chang heads the tax team of 20 partners and 320 fee earners. Bruce Lan joined from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in January 2011, while Judy Hsu and Jonathan Chen were promoted to partner in June 2011.

Robert Chen advised a client on a variety of issues to do with the Taiwan-Israel double tax agreement. Chen also successfully helped the client save about $7.2 million in withholding tax over a two year period.

The demand for the practice's transfer pricing services is increasing. They include risk analysis, methodology selection, economic analysis and compliance reports.

The Sherry Chang-led tax practice at KPMG comprises 10 partners and more than 170 fee earners spread across five offices. The firm offers the whole package of services expected of a tax practice at a leading accounting firm.The team is advising an overseas ... [more]

The Sherry Chang-led tax practice at KPMG comprises 10 partners and more than 170 fee earners spread across five offices. The firm offers the whole package of services expected of a tax practice at a leading accounting firm.

The team is advising an overseas telecommunications operator regarding the tax authority's income tax assessment on service fees received. The client is contesting the right of the tax authorities to levy a tax on this income. The tax team reviewed the transaction, analysed the income source, and entered into negotiations with the tax authorities, who reversed their decision, exempting the client from paying the tax. In addition to creating a tax benefit for the client, the decision will also promote future cross-border transactions between telecommunications operators.

In another deal, KPMG's client acquired the local service line of a global biotechnology company. During the acquisition, the firm recognised $22.7 million in business rights to be amortised over 10 years. The tax authorities disallowed the amortisation expense, citing the lack of a third-party appraisal report to validate the fair value of the transaction price. The tax team reviewed the calculations and allocation method of the transaction price and prepared supporting documents to respond successfully to the tax authority's inquiries.

On 1 July 2010, PwC Taiwan officially formed a collaborative framework with the China, Hong Kong and Singapore member firms to strengthen ties in the Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region.Steven Go leads the firm's tax team of 16 partners and more ... [more]

On 1 July 2010, PwC Taiwan officially formed a collaborative framework with the China, Hong Kong and Singapore member firms to strengthen ties in the Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region.

Steven Go leads the firm's tax team of 16 partners and more than 360 professionals. Partner Richard Watanabe heads the financial services department, and is recognised by peers as a prominent tax adviser in Taiwan. PwC also incorporates a legal arm, further expanding its range of capabilities.

PwC works with several leading banks on inbound and outbound tax consulting, transaction structures as well as tax compliance. The firm develops tax efficient solutions to several tax issues including tax deductibility, business tax, transaction structures, group structuring and tax healthcheck reviews.

Baker & McKenzie's tax practice consists of three partners and seven fee earners, and is led by Michael Wong. Partner Dennis Lee is known as a leading corporate tax adviser.Lee and Wen-Yeng Kang acted for Morgan Stanley, the financial adviser to Polaris, ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie's tax practice consists of three partners and seven fee earners, and is led by Michael Wong. Partner Dennis Lee is known as a leading corporate tax adviser.

Lee and Wen-Yeng Kang acted for Morgan Stanley, the financial adviser to Polaris, regarding financial group Yuanta's NT$48.9 billion acquisition of Polaris. The pair provided tax advice on M&A and corporate restructuring issues.

The pair are also advising Kohlberg Kravis Roberts on the tax implications of its acquisition of Yageo, an electronics manufacturer.

After spending 14 years in the Shanghai office, the experienced Bill Seto returned to Ernst & Young Taiwan in July 2010 to head the tax department.George Chou oversees the transfer pricing department. He has expanded the practice aggressively, hiring ... [more]

After spending 14 years in the Shanghai office, the experienced Bill Seto returned to Ernst & Young Taiwan in July 2010 to head the tax department.

George Chou oversees the transfer pricing department. He has expanded the practice aggressively, hiring about 30 new professionals to bolster his team.

Sophie Chou and Ada Lin won a tax court case in June 2011 on the issue of goodwill amortisation, which the tax authorities had initially disallowed amortisation in all situations. Chou and Lin explained the nature of goodwill from transactional perspectives and successfully argued that the tax authorities should bear the burden of proof if they claim the value of goodwill is overstated. This case will affect future cases involving the amortisation of goodwill resulting from M&A transactions.

While Lee and Li provides a full range of tax services including tax planning, dispute resolution, and tax structuring, tax disputes have been a large focus of the firm's attention. The tax practice comprises eight partners and 34 fee earners, and is ... [more]

While Lee and Li provides a full range of tax services including tax planning, dispute resolution, and tax structuring, tax disputes have been a large focus of the firm's attention. The tax practice comprises eight partners and 34 fee earners, and is led by Frank Lin and Josephine Peng. Lin is recommended by peers for his M&A work.

Lin represented a multinational company in a dispute involving the validity of a tax assessment of its liquidated affiliate in Taiwan, and whether the liquidated company should be subject to additional income tax. After three years, the Ministry of Finance ruled that the company was legally liquidated and that the tax authorities' decision should be revoked. The case is now being reassessed by the tax authorities.

Peng is representing an international company's Taiwanese branch in a transfer pricing audit on its income tax return. The Ministry of Finance is considering applying the thin capitalisation rules or challenging the necessity of offshore affiliate loans, to disallow a portion of the interest expense. Peng and her team are preparing documents to prove that the loans are necessary and that the thin capitalisation rules should not apply.

Jennifer Lin leads the tax practice at Tsar & Tsai, a full service law firm equipped to offer advice on the tax aspects of domestic and international business transactions, as well as litigation and dispute resolution.Judy Sun successfully represented ... [more]

Jennifer Lin leads the tax practice at Tsar & Tsai, a full service law firm equipped to offer advice on the tax aspects of domestic and international business transactions, as well as litigation and dispute resolution.

Judy Sun successfully represented a hi-tech company in court concerning the income tax implications arising from an increase in capital for the purpose of business expansion. The Taipei High Administrative Court announced in December 2010 that it would revoke the tax authorities' penalty of more than NT$57 million in unpaid taxes.