I have a non domiciled client just leaving the UK for Singapore. Ideally we would like to know of anyone that might have expertise in these two countries. We have a desire to have our own audit of the tax advice that was provided by the UK employer for his time here and to oversee the tax advice his employer is providing locally in Singapore.
Ian Wells
Emery Little
UK200 have an associate firm in Singapore - Helmi Talib @
Helmi Talib & Co
1 Finlayson Green #06-01
SINGAPORE
049246
Singapore
+(65) 63392776
helmi@helmitalib.com.sg
www.helmitalib.com
Feel free to contact them.
Lucy Orrow
Lambert Chapman LLP
Hi Ian
Having spent time in the world of personal tax before my life in trusts, I would ask whether what you propose is really going to add any value for the client.
His employer is presumably fairly large given that they have employees in the UK and Singapore. Does the employer have an external adviser engaged?
If there is a specific point you are concerned about I suggest your client first goes to the employer, explaining his concerns, and asking for the technical authority on which they base their advice.
If the answer doesn’t allay your concerns then I would say your best option would be to go to one of the big four accountants if it about employer taxes; or a big law firm (I know Irwin Mitchell
do this sort of thing) if it is about Estate / Inheritance matters. Their international network will allow for comprehensive advice in either country. There are also some notable smaller/individual specialists out there, including an ex EY/Deloitte former
colleague of mine who I can refer you to if you wish. None of these options comes cheap, which is why I think the best option for the client, if possible, would be for them to back to the source of original advice giver with any concerns.
My view would also be don’t go to a smaller general accounting/law firm that deals with these things only occasionally – dabbling tends not to work out well for anybody.
I hope this is useful.
Sara Spencer
Sara Spencer Ltd
Thank you for your input. One of the big 4 have advised my client but the advice has fallen short of what was expected. My first interactions with him showed that although the remittance basis was claimed since 2012, I am the first person to explain what this is and what the impacts might be. The big 4 were working for the employer more than my client. He now has a tainted fund and is outside of the amnesty period for cleansing mixed funds. My experience is that if the big 4 are working for the employer, they aren’t necessarily working for the employee.
Ian Wells
Emery Little