Upcoming Seminars and Conferences

Upcoming Seminars and Conferences
UPCOMING EVENTS

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December 2020
November 2020

A Peek into the “Taxing Book” - The Law and Practice of Singapore Income Tax 3rd Edition Primers Series: Tax Planning and Avoidance

11 Dec

Following the success of the first and second editions, the Tax Academy of Singapore is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the 3rd edition of The Law & Practice of Singapore Income Tax. An authoritative and comprehensive reference book on taxation of income, this edition aims to explain the fundamental changes to the tax landscape and updates on the Second Edition with a comprehensive coverage and analysis of case law developments, administrative guides and practical application of the income tax law, tax treaties and international tax agreements. In conjunction with the launch of the book, we are pleased to present a series of webinars where the authors will give an overview of what is covered in their respective chapters and expound on some of the topics. In addition, webinar participants will be entitled to a special 15% discount off the price of the book!

In this second webinar of the series, we are pleased to invite Ms Ong Ken Loon (Drew & Napier LLC, Head, Tax & Private Client Services) and Mr Charles Li (Drew & Napier LLC, Associate Director, Tax & Private Client Services), to share on the chapter on “Tax Planning and Avoidance”. While both tax planning and tax avoidance are legal, employing inappropriate practices of tax avoidance in some cases may border on tax evasion. On the other hand, tax planning is a process of elaborating the company’s financial related matters to maximise the tax benefits under eligible provisions of the tax framework. In this webinar, we will discuss the framework for tax planning and the application of the general anti-avoidance provision under section 33 of the Income Tax Act.

Agenda:

  • An overview on the framework for tax planning
  • Application of Section 33
  • Interaction with tax offences
  • Thoughts on recent developments in GAAR and Singapore’s effort to strengthen its anti-avoidance principles
  • Discussion and Q&A session

Admin details:

  • This webinar will be conducted via Zoom
  • Date: 11 Dec 20
  • Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Fees: $53.50 (incl. GST)
  • Closing date for registration: 3 Dec 20
  • Registration Form

About the Speakers

Ms Ong Ken Loon is the Head, Tax & Private Client Services of Drew & Napier LLC. Ken Loon advises on tax aspects of corporate transactions, such as income tax, GST, stamp duty, and property tax. She assists clients with negotiations with the IRAS and represents clients before the tax tribunals and courts. She advises local and multinational corporate groups, financial institutions, and investment funds on a broad range of transactions. Ken Loon also works with private clients on solutions to complex tax, succession and private wealth issues. She was formerly a Principal Legal Officer in the IRAS. She is recommended as one of Singapore’s leading tax lawyers by Chambers & Partners and The Asia Pacific Legal 500.

Mr Charles Li is the Associate Director, Tax & Private Client Services of Drew & Napier LLC. Charles is a dual-qualified lawyer and accountant. He has experience in both the private and public sectors, having worked in a law firm, an accounting firm and the tax authority. He was formerly a senior legal specialist and tax prosecutor with the IRAS. Charles is familiar with the different types of taxes and duties, and has experience with exchange of information, international tax and transfer pricing issues. He represents clients before the tax tribunals and the courts, and also assists clients with their applications for advance rulings, adjudications, reliefs, remissions, and family office tax incentives.

Webinar Exclusive!! 15% discount for purchase of book! Attendees will be entitled to purchase the Third Edition of The Law and Practice of Singapore Income Tax at 15% discount off RRP. This discount code can be applied at the online bookstore. We will email the unique discount code to attendees after webinar fees have been paid. Prices shown are inclusive of GST:

Hardcover:

  • $345.61 (Discounted Price)
  • $406.60 (Recommended retail price)

eBook:

  • $272.85 (Discounted Price)
  • $321.00 (Recommended retail price)
  • Find out more about what is an eBook

9 Dec

The lnland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has made Missing Trader Fraud (MTF) also known as Carousel Fraud, a top priority of focus in its audit and investigation efforts. There are newspaper headlines of people under investigation for suspected involvement and the IRAS having new powers to arrest and seize goods. This was recently confirmed by the Second Finance Minister Mr Lawrence Wong in a Parliamentary response, that there are more than 300 GST-registered businesses under investigation as at end-2019, with a total tax amount of $450 million at stake.

It is not surprising that MTF arrangements are the subject of new legislative provisions introduced in the recent Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act 2020. The new provisions allow the IRAS to deny a taxable person’s input tax claims in circumstances where the business “knew or should have known” that its transactions were part of a fraudulent MTF arrangement. If the business “knew” that it was involved in a MTF arrangement, it could be found guilty of an offence. If the business “should have known” that it was involved in a MTF arrangement, a 10% surcharge to the input tax denied may be imposed on the business.

All GST-registered businesses will be affected to some extent. To help you understand the wide implications of the new GST provisions and the IRAS’ expectations of businesses under the new rules, please join us in our webinar where we have Mr Koh Soo How from Koh SH & Associates Pte Ltd, and Mr Yang Shi Yong and Mr Charles Li from Drew & Napier LLC, to explain the legal and practical aspects of the new rules and what it means to you.

Agenda:

  • What is Missing Trader Fraud (MTF)
  • The new Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act 2020
  • Examples of MFT arrangements
  • Circumstances that can give rise to a denial of input tax claims
  • What do you have to do to protect yourself

Admin details:

  • This webinar will be conducted via Zoom
  • Date: 9 Dec 20
  • Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Fees: $53.50 (incl. GST)
  • Closing date for registration: 1 Dec 20
  • Registration Form

About the Speakers

Mr Koh Soo How is the Executive Director of Koh SH & Associates Pte Ltd. With over 25 years of experience in GST, Soo How has been named as one of the world’s leading indirect tax advisers by International Tax Review since 2011. The highlights of his career and experience include being the partner lead of a Big 4 regional indirect tax network, member of the GST Board of Review from 2013 to 2019, and a core member of the IRAS team which implemented the GST system in 1994. Soo How is also the Chief Editor of LexisNexis’ “Goods and Services Tax – Law & Practice (2nd Edition)” and teaches at the Tax Academy and SUSS. He is also on SCTP’s GST Committee which engages the IRAS on technical and policy matters. Soo How now runs his own indirect tax advisory practice providing practical and sustainable advisory services

Mr Yang Shi Yong is the Director, Tax & Private Client Services of Drew & Napier LLC. Shi Yong advises on a wide spectrum of tax law with specialisation in enterprise tax risk management, tax audit and tax investigation matters. He has successfully resolved a large number of audit and investigation matters without prosecution. Shi Yong’s other key strength lies in oil and gas matters. He regularly advises national oil and gas companies on downstream, refinery infrastructure and assets, storage, production sharing, off-take and supply, corporate governance, and day-to-day commercial and operational matters.

Mr Charles Li is the Associate Director, Tax & Private Client Services of Drew & Napier LLC. Charles is a dual-qualified lawyer and accountant. He has experience in both the private and public sectors, having worked in a law firm, an accounting firm and the tax authority. He was formerly a senior legal specialist and tax prosecutor with the IRAS. Charles is familiar with the different types of taxes and duties, and has experience with exchange of information, international tax and transfer pricing issues. He represents clients before the tax tribunals and the courts, and also assists clients with their applications for advance rulings, adjudications, reliefs, remissions, and family office tax incentives.

Budget Clinic Webinar Series – Tax Implications on Employees’ Tax Reporting in the Face of COVID-19

27 Nov

Tax Academy is pleased to present this webinar which aims to enhance tax agents and employers’ understanding on the implications on employees’ tax reporting in the face of the coronavirus. This webinar will be presented by IRAS speakers in the form of a recorded presentation and a “live” Q&A session. The webinar will cover:

  • Tax implications on individuals temporary working remotely from Singapore due to COVID-19
  • Tax implications on individuals temporary working outside Singapore due to COVID-19
  • Tax residency
  • Tax treatment on employment benefits received by employees due to COVID-19

This webinar is suitable for: Tax Agents, Business Owners, Finance and Human Resource Professionals

Admin details:

  • The webinar will be conducted via Zoom
  • Date: 27 Nov 20 (Fri)
  • Time: 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.
  • Fees: $32.10 (incl. GST)
  • Closing date for registration: 20 Nov
  • Registration Form

A Peek into the “Taxing Book” - The Law and Practice of Singapore Income Tax 3rd Edition Primers Series: Exchange of Information and International Tax Agreements

26 Nov

Following the success of the first and second editions, the Tax Academy of Singapore is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the 3rd edition of The Law & Practice of Singapore Income Tax. An authoritative and comprehensive reference book on taxation of income, this edition aims to explain the fundamental changes to the tax landscape and updates on the Second Edition with a comprehensive coverage and analysis of case law developments, administrative guides and practical application of the income tax law, tax treaties and international tax agreements.

In conjunction with the launch of the book, we are pleased to present the first of a series of webinars where the authors will give an overview of what is covered in their respective chapters and expound on some of the topics. In addition, webinar participants will be entitled to a special 15% discount off the price of the book!

To kick off this series, we have Mr Allen Tan (Head of Tax, Trade and Wealth Management, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow), and Mr Robin Ng (Director, International Tax and Relations-Policy, IRAS) to share from the chapter on “Exchange of Information and International Tax Agreements”. They will discuss the key frameworks through which tax authorities of different jurisdictions work with each other by conducting exchange of information (‘EOI’), with a focus on developments that impact Singapore.

Who should attend: Business owners/leaders, tax practitioners, including tax, finance, accounting and legal professionals

Agenda:

  • Overview of international developments on EOI and Singapore’s responses
  • International tax agreements
  • EOI on request
  • Automatic EOI
  • Spontaneous EOI
  • Thoughts on the challenges or issues in EOI arising from the sharing and gig economy
  • Discussion and Q&A session

Admin details:

  • This webinar will be conducted via Zoom
  • Date: 26 Nov 20
  • Time: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Fees: $53.50 (incl. GST)
  • Closing date for registration: 19 Nov 20
  • Registration Form

About the Speakers

Mr. Allen Tan is the head of the Tax, Trade and Wealth Management practice in Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He has extensive experience working on both international and local tax issues, with a special focus on the regional tax aspects of the transactions that he is involved in. Allen’s clients include Global Fortune 500 multinational corporations and major Singapore conglomerates. He is recognised as a leading lawyer for his tax controversy and corporate tax work in many leading legal and tax directories including International Tax Review, Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Allen was also named the Asia Tax Practice Leader of the Year 2018 by International Tax Review.

Mr. Robin Ng is currently the Director of the Policy Branch of the International Tax Policy and Relation Division in the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Robin oversees matters relating to DTAs, policies concerning exchange of information on request, international tax cooperation and administrative assistance as well as international tax relations matters. Robin holds a Bachelor of Accountancy with Honours from the Nanyang Technological University and a Master of Laws in International Tax Laws with Honours from Vienna University of Economics and Business. Robin is a Chartered Accountant (Singapore) and an Accredited Tax Advisor (Income Tax). Robin has contributed to external journals such as the Cahiers for the International Fiscal Association.

Webinar Exclusive!! 15% discount for purchase of book! Attendees will be entitled to purchase the Third Edition of The Law and Practice of Singapore Income Tax at 15% discount off RRP. This discount code can be applied at the online bookstore. We will email the unique discount code to attendees after webinar fees have been paid. Prices shown are inclusive of GST:

Hardcover:

  • $345.61 (Discounted Price)
  • $406.60 (Recommended retail price)

eBook:

  • $272.85 (Discounted Price)
  • $321.00 (Recommended retail price)
  • Find out more about what is an eBook

For any clarifications, please submit your queries via Clarifications on webinar, and we will attend to them as soon as possible.

TEI US Tax Conference (Virtual)

17 to 25 Nov

The Tax Executives Institute (TEI) and the Tax Academy of Singapore (TAS) are pleased to jointly present the TEI US Tax Conference in Singapore from 17 to 25 November 2020. This virtual 6-modules event spreading across 6 days will feature leading US tax experts from EY and Baker & McKenzie who will provide participants with an overview of the US taxation system, key features of US Tax Reform and recent developments. Please click here for Brochure

Who should attend: Business owners/leaders, tax practitioners, including tax, finance, accounting and legal professionals

Admin details:

  • The webinar will be conducted via Zoom
  • Dates: 17 to 25 Nov 20
  • Time: SGT 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m.
  • Participants may choose to sign up for the modules that they are interested in, subject to a minimum of 4 modules.
  • Fees for TEI members (per module): SGD 100 / USD 75
  • Fees for Non-TEI members (per module): SGD 170 / USD 125
  • Above fees exclude 7% GST. Local participants need to pay above fees plus 7% GST.
  • Closing date for registration: 30 Oct 20
  • Registration Form

For any clarifications, please submit your queries via Clarifications on webinar, and we will attend to them as soon as possible.

Please read Terms and Conditions for seminars.