The Challenge of Transfer Pricing
Transfer pricing presents some of the most challenging and resource-intensive tax and compliance issues facing multinational companies today. Among them are the need to coordinate transfer pricing policies across the company, achieve consistency in documenting transfer prices, minimize exposure to potentially enormous tax deficiencies and penalties, ensure adequate financial controls and reporting, manage the risk of economic double-taxation, and exploit legitimate opportunities for global tax minimization. Managing these issues makes multiple demands on a company's internal tax professionals -- demands that require preparation, creativity and a pro-active strategy. With the increasing globalization of commerce, and with the IRS and other jurisdictions stepping up enforcement, these demands will only increase.
Miller & Chevalier's Transfer Pricing practice brings deep experience and a multi-disciplinary approach to helping large multinationals deal successfully with both opportunities and challenges. Our clients are sophisticated and discerning companies who recognize the value of working with proven leaders in the full range of transfer pricing issues. We have assisted them in planning and controversy matters covering products, technology, services, and financings across a wide spectrum of industries, including pharmaceutical, electronics and high tech, oil and gas, natural resources, telecommunications, business services, automotive, retail, and manufacturing.
Our transfer pricing team includes former IRS and Treasury officials who were instrumental in developing important transfer pricing guidance. Our reputation for integrity and professionalism, and our relationships within the agencies, enable us to represent our clients effectively and efficiently. Our mix of transfer pricing, tax, and international expertise; rich government experience; and skill in resolving tough issues is a powerful combination that distinguishes our practice and offers a distinct advantage to our clients.
Making the Most of Opportunities
Sound planning in the transfer pricing arena requires more than expertise in transfer pricing law -- in the planning context, our clients benefit from our broad knowledge and experience working with the U.S. tax treaty network, anti-deferral regimes such as subpart F, source of income and foreign tax credit rules, and repatriation. We ensure that a company's transfer pricing policies fit within its overall tax picture and further its business objectives. Our lawyers have been working with the Advance Pricing Agreement program almost since its inception, and have used that program in numerous cases to provide certainty and predictability to clients. We benefit from a tried and tested network of tax advisors that give us coverage and support in most of the major developed countries.
Leaders in Defense and Resolution of Transfer Pricing Disputes
Miller & Chevalier's tax controversy practice is among the largest and most successful in the country, and our expertise and experience in the defense and resolution of transfer pricing controversies is recognized by both U.S.- and foreign-based multinational companies. Many of the cases we have handled involved potential deficiencies in the hundreds of millions, and sometimes billions, of dollars. Indeed, our experience includes the single largest transfer pricing case ever litigated to decision in a U.S. court. We have a track record of success - our clients have never sustained a penalty in any transfer pricing matter we have handled.
Whether at the audit stage, or in administrative appeals, fast-track mediation, competent authority, APA, or litigation, we integrate seamlessly with the internal client team and other experts in developing creative and persuasive responses to what are often novel and difficult issues. We have worked side by side with most of the major economic consulting firms that work in the transfer pricing area, and we are well positioned to recommend the best economist for a given situation.
Keeping Clients Informed
Our Transfer Pricing practice is never static. We monitor developments and trends closely and brief our clients as they occur. Our lawyers are recognized as experts and thought-leaders in transfer pricing issues. They are invited often to write and speak on topics of special interest, and we share this information with our clients. Miller & Chevalier's transfer pricing lawyers write and speak regularly on a variety of transfer pricing issues, including areas of current controversy such as the IRS treatment of cost sharing arrangements.
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