Engaging with tax authorities and government regulators is an inevitable aspect of conducting business, and these interactions demand the utmost accuracy, careful diplomacy, and meticulously organised documentation. Whether your company is responding to a routine enquiry, undergoing a detailed audit, or seeking a formal ruling on a complex issue, you can benefit significantly from the guidance of an experienced professional representative. An expert advocate understands the technical nuances of the law and the procedural expectations of the authorities, ensuring that your case is presented clearly and persuasively. Zetland Fiduciary Group provides discreet and effective professional representation for our clients across Asia's key financial centres. We ensure that all matters are handled with efficiency and transparency, and that a consistent, evidence-based narrative is maintained throughout the process. Our approach begins with a comprehensive review of the facts of the case. We then assemble all the necessary supporting documents, draft clear and cogent responses, and engage constructively with the relevant officials to clarify your position and resolve any outstanding issues. Our primary objective is to minimise disruption to your business and mitigate any potential financial or reputational risk, while vigorously protecting your interests. Where necessary, we can also propose and help implement pragmatic remediation plans and enhanced internal controls to prevent the recurrence of similar issues in the future, strengthening your overall compliance framework.
In Hong Kong, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) maintains a rigorous approach to tax administration. Our professional representation service provides expert advocacy for businesses facing enquiries or audits in this jurisdiction. We frequently assist clients with a range of complex matters, including detailed profits tax enquiries, the substantiation of offshore claims for non-taxable income, responding to transfer pricing queries, and resolving discrepancies in employer's returns. Our process begins with a thorough assessment of the case, where we review all notices from the IRD, gather the relevant facts, and evaluate any potential exposures. We then compile a comprehensive documentation pack, which may include contracts, invoices, bank records, detailed transfer pricing files, and relevant board minutes, to build a robust evidentiary foundation for your position. Our experienced team manages all communication with the IRD, from drafting carefully worded initial responses and clarifications to preparing formal submissions and attending meetings on your behalf. We aim to foster a constructive dialogue with the tax authorities to facilitate a timely and favourable resolution. In situations where disagreements arise, we are skilled in negotiating positions, arranging payment plans, and mitigating potential penalties. Beyond resolving the immediate issue, we provide valuable advice on prevention, offering recommendations to strengthen your internal documentation and processes to reduce the likelihood of future enquiries. By engaging Zetland, you secure the services of a professional advocate who can navigate the complexities of Hong Kong's tax system with confidence, thereby minimising the risk to your business and allowing your management team to remain focused on their core operational responsibilities.
Singapore's reputation for regulatory integrity means that interactions with authorities like the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) require a high degree of preparedness and clarity. Our Singapore-based team provides expert representation to help your business navigate these engagements successfully. We assist with a wide spectrum of IRAS matters, including responding to queries on Goods and Services Tax (GST) and corporate income tax, preparing applications for advance rulings on complex transactions, and managing comprehensive compliance reviews and audits. Our engagement starts with a proactive risk assessment, where we may review your GST classifications, assess your permanent establishment (PE) risk, or evaluate your transfer pricing policies to identify any areas of potential vulnerability. We then work with you to assemble all the necessary evidence to support your position, which can include contracts, detailed tax computations, reconciliations between your financial statements and tax returns, and other relevant workpapers. Our team takes the lead in managing the entire engagement process with IRAS. We draft all formal responses to their queries, attend meetings as your representative, and proactively manage the timelines to ensure all deadlines are met. In cases where compliance gaps are identified, we can assist in making voluntary disclosures to the authorities, a process that can significantly mitigate potential penalties. We also help you to implement effective remediation strategies, such as improving internal processes or providing targeted training for your staff, to strengthen your ongoing compliance. Our service provides the regulatory assurance that comes from clear, timely, and well-supported submissions, allowing you to manage your tax exposures effectively with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Effective representation before the State Taxation Administration (STA) and other government authorities in Mainland China is uniquely dependent on the quality and integrity of your underlying financial documentation. Our team in Shanghai provides the specialised expertise needed to manage these interactions effectively, leveraging their deep understanding of the local regulatory environment. Our support covers all interactions with the tax bureaus concerning Value Added Tax (VAT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and other tax matters. We assist with documentation requests, compliance checks, and formal audits. Our process begins with a readiness review to ensure that your ledgers, accounting vouchers, and fapiao records are all meticulously matched to your tax filings, as this is the primary focus of any inspection. When responding to an enquiry, we prepare comprehensive submission packs containing fully bilingual documentation with clear cross-references, ensuring that your position is communicated effectively to the local authorities. Our team is experienced in handling all forms of engagement, from responding to written enquiries to attending meetings and managing on-site visits from tax officials where required. A key part of our role is to act as a bridge between your local operations and your international management, ensuring that there is a consistent and accurate narrative supported by robust evidence. Following the conclusion of an enquiry or audit, we work with your team to implement any agreed-upon improvements to your processes and can provide training to your staff to ensure ongoing compliance. Our professional representation service in China delivers the assurance that your documentation will meet the exacting standards of local inspections, providing clarity in your communications and facilitating smoother, more pragmatic outcomes that resolve issues and protect your business interests.
Zetland Fiduciary Group operates a global network of offices to support clients across key international financial hubs. Whether you are seeking guidance on company formation, trust administration, accounting, or cross-border transactions, our local experts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and London are ready to assist.
Contact any of our offices directly for tailored advice and seamless service.