International Tax

U.S. Tax

International Tax

U.S. Tax

Our International Tax team have built strong relationships with our sister firms in the United States to provide clients with tax advice that is both technically sound and commercially sensible. 

Expanding into the U.S.

Structuring cross-border investments requires a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory environments of both countries. Our experts have the expertise and connections to help you successfully navigate through the intricate laws of the United States and Australia.

The investment relationship between the US and Australia is worth more than $1.47 trillion, with both inbound and outbound investment continuing to flourish over the years. With roughly a quarter of Australia’s incoming foreign investments originating from the US, it is Australia’s largest direct investor. 

Some of the major assignments we have worked on over the last 12 months includes:

  • Expansion of business activity into the US through the establishment of a Limited Liability Company (“LLC”) – an increasingly popular investment vehicle in the US;
  • Merger advice in relation to the sale of an Australian company to a special purpose acquisition vehicle (“SPAC”) in the US;
  • Detailed advice in relation to the exchange of shares in an Australian company for shares in a US company, including the application of scrip-for-scrip CGT relief for shareholders;
  • Relocation of a beverage distribution center into the US, and detailed advice in relation to foreign derived intangible income and Australia’s Controlled Foreign Company regime;
  • Assisting with the expansion of a start-up technology company into the US and advice in relation to US royalty withholding tax on payments to Australia under transfer pricing rules;
  • Assisting an Australian subsidiary of a US head company change from a corporation to a disregarded entity under the ‘check-the-box’ regulations;
  • Creation of a stapled structure for a medical group in order for it to conduct business in Australia in a company structure and business in the US in a flow-through structure;
  • Advice regarding the US grantor trust rules in relation to franking a dividend distribution from a motor vehicle distribution group to US beneficiaries;
  • Assisting US retirees in Australia to set up self-controlled US eligible retirement funds;
  • Assisting US citizens to expatriate and set up trusts in the US to benefit US beneficiaries, and advice in relation expatriate gift and bequest tax; and
  • Advising investment into an Australian company in the form of preference shares by a foreign LLP controlled by a US hedge fund. Advice in relation to Australian withholding taxes on dividends paid to non-residents and hybrid financial instrument mismatch rules.


Related Insights

Expanding into the US

Expanding into the US

27 July 2023
Are You Well-Matched?

Are You Well-Matched?

17 July 2023
Read more

U.S. Tax Specialists

Our US Tax team is led by Buck Xiao who specialises in US federal tax. Highly regarded for his ability to boil down the intricacies of US/Australian tax to be easily understood by clients, Buck's expertise extends to global intangible low-taxed income, foreign derived intangible income, base erosion and anti-abuse tax, earnings stripping, corporate anti-inversion rules, as well as neoteric corporate alternative minimum tax. Buck is the leading author of a number of published articles including:

Deducting Hybrid Mismatch Rules – Fit for Purpose?
Deducting Hybrid Mismatch Rules – Fit for Purpose?

Critical analysis of the Australian deducting hybrid mismatch rules against the benchmark of US Dual Consolidated Loss rules.

Structural Choice for Expanding into the US
Structural Choice for Expanding into the US

Breakdown of four archetype structures distilled from years of observation on businesses operating in both the US and Australia.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Our US Tax Team has the ability to distil complex concepts into practical solutions. Our knowledge spans a wide range of topics demonstrating our comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of international taxation.

If you are considering investing to or from the United States, feel free to reach out to our US Tax Team to find out more!

GET IN TOUCH

Meet our Experts

Jian (Buck) Xiao

Jian (Buck) Xiao

Director – Taxation
VIEW PROFILE
Shana Soares

Shana Soares

Analyst - Corporate Tax
VIEW PROFILE