Topic

Embracing technology to enable smooth transition to VAT

Abstract

Whenever a new VAT regime is established, it is seldom the case that businesses are fully prepared to deal with the tax obligations that arise as a result, e.g. capturing all the right information for tax reporting.

This session will uncover the intricacies of nascent VAT regimes, including real-life examples of the difficulties some companies have faced in trying to ‘gear up for VAT’ and the potential consequences of poor compliance.

With minimal disruption and incredible accuracy versus traditional consultant-led VAT setups, attendees will also discover how Innovate Tax’s multi-award winning range of indirect tax automation technology solutions can help them to avoid the common pitfalls for non-compliance.

BIO

Nathan is an experienced sales professional, with a demonstrable track record in the delivery of global commercial software solutions for international blue chip organisations.

As a member of the Innovate Tax board, Nathan is responsible for all commercial engagements at Innovate Tax as well as the strategic lead for sales, marketing and product development.

Nathan has created an impressive network of clients and partners all around the world, increasing market presence and with the development of an exciting and refreshing Tax Technology value proposition to every marketplace with Oracle ERP.

Wouter Kolkman , Attorney at Law – Tax Advisor at DLA Piper, UAE

Topic

VAT Introduction in the GCC: a lawyer’s perspective

Abstract

Taking note of the swift introduction of VAT in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Bahrain, the following (potential) GCC VAT issues from a lawyer’s perspective are discussed:
• Importance of contracts and appropriate VAT clauses
• Ascertaining correct VAT treatment
• VAT registration and gathering information from customers
• VAT recovery issues and VAT grouping
• VAT litigation prevention strategies

Bio

Wouter Kolkman’s practice focuses on EU and GCC VAT as well as other indirect taxes such as import duties and excise tax. His clients include multinational companies, investment funds and real estate investors and developers. Wouter is professionally qualified as both an attorney at law (registered with the Amsterdam bar) and a tax advisor in the Netherlands since 2015. Before the GCC VAT introduction, Wouter advised from the Amsterdam office various clients in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on the implementation of VAT.
Wouter has since advised numerous businesses operating in the Middle East on their tax structures and supply chains, bringing a wealth of VAT expertise from an EU perspective on which much of the GCC VAT regimes are based. Wouter regularly authors articles on complicated Dutch, EU and GCC VAT topics for esteemed tax journals published by Bloomberg Tax and the International Bureau for Fiscal Documentation.