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Managing tax disputes effectively: an ex-IRAS tax litigator offers practical tips and suggestions for businesses

At different stages of the life cycle of a tax dispute, there are actions which you can take to prevent or resolve a tax conflict. For instance, you may consider seeking an Advance Ruling. Or you can make a voluntary disclosure if there are errors in the tax returns. For audits and investigations, one need not be a passive participant. Instead, we should aim to use this period to shape the narrative and convince the tax regulator of our position. When navigating tax disputes, it is not sufficient to merely understand what your own position is. It is crucial to also have a firm appreciation and understanding of the tax regulator’s position. Because only then one can define what a “successful” resolution of a tax dispute is and thereafter, calibrate your approach towards a tax dispute. If you have a strong case, then you are in a position to hold firm and proceed to litigate the case if necessary. However, if you have a weak case, you may wish to consider resolving the dispute using methods other than litigation. Download a copy of the presentation slides here. For further inquiries regarding this alert, please contact: HanFeng Ma Senior Associate, Taxise Asia LLC [email protected] +65 6304 3289