Tax planning: what is it and why is it needed?
Tax planning is a set of legal actions of a taxpayer aimed at the maximum achievable reduction in the amount of taxes, duties, fees and other mandatory payments paid to the state.
Types of tax planning
Depending on the subject:
Individual tax planning – minimization of obligatory payments of an individual for easy saving of money.
Corporate Tax Planning is an integral part of the company’s overall financial planning. Its main goal is to optimize tax payments in such a way as to achieve attractive economic indicators. The funds saved on taxes are used to modernize and improve operational efficiency, which is especially important for successfully fighting competitors.
Depending on the level:
Local tax planning is carried out within one state, that is, within the same legal framework, without the involvement of international planning tools.
International tax planning – tax minimization through the active use of foreign companies, funds and other structures. At the same time, tax incentives provided for by foreign legislation and/or provisions of treaties on the elimination of double taxation, transfer pricing methods, as well as a number of other useful tools, are used.
The main stages of tax planning
- Tax analysis of the current situation. Determination of the status of a taxpayer in accordance with the current legislation, as well as drawing up a list of taxes and other mandatory payments that he must pay.
- Statement of the problem and identification of opportunities. Analysis of local and foreign legislation and international treaties in order to determine the possibility of applying special tax regimes or zones and territories with preferential tax rates.
- Risk calculation. Determination of the likelihood of losses that may arise as a result of the application of tax planning schemes. This can be both direct financial losses from increased attention from government bodies, and image losses.
- Development of an individual scheme. Based on the analysis of legislation and risk accounting, an optimal scheme is built, maximally tailored to a specific situation.
- Implementation in life. Implementation of actions that directly implement the provisions of the developed scheme. Such actions can be property restructuring; establishment of companies, foundations, trusts and their inclusion in the general business scheme; renegotiation of contracts and so on.