News
Find out all about our firm’s latest news and activities below. To learn more about any individual item, please contact us here.
News
Find out all about our firm’s latest news and activities below. To learn more about any individual item, please contact us here.
On 9 June 2018, Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, Ms. Heidi Chui attended the “Conference of Collaboration between Lawyers in Hong Kong and China” with her associates Mr. Kyle Lo and Mr. Jensen Chang. The event was well-received and attracted nearly 60 participants including entrepreneurs from Shandong.


In the first session, Ms. Heidi Chui, Mr. Kyle Lo and Mr. Jensen Chang gave an introduction about the firm to the participants on matters relating to milestones, awards and recognitions, events and services.



In the second session, Ms. Heidi Chui was invited to deliver the keynote speech on the topic of “Listing in Hong Kong. She shared some samples on certain issues about listing in Hong Kong such as the criteria and conditions. She also delivered a topic on “The Strategies on Cross-Border Litigation Involving Hong Kong and the Mainland China”.

Ms. Heidi Chui and her team were delighted to participate in the sharing and they look forward to working closely with lawyers in Mainland China.
Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Ms. Heidi Chui.
On 6-9 June 2018, Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partners Mr. Willy Cheng and Ms. Lai Lam attended Interlaw 2018 Asia Pacific & EMEA Regional Meeting held in London. The Asia Pacific & EMEA Regional Meeting was well attended by 112 delegates from multiple jurisdictions.

The theme of the Asia Pacific & EMEA Regional Meeting was “Changes”. The legal market has experienced fundamental changes in recent years such as a new breed of client and business development; multi-generational workforce; work-life balance; social networking for marketing and developing client relationships and the impact of technology.

During the event, Mr. Cheng attended several Special Business Team Meetings including “Managing Partners’ Breakfast”, “Mergers and Acquisitions” and “Banking, Finance and Insolvency”. Ms. Lam is the Asia Pacific Chair of Interlaw’s Diversity, Inclusion & Community Group and co-chaired the Diversity, Inclusion and Community Breakfast on 7 June. Ms. Zia Bhaloo QC, Mr. Chris White and Ms. Avita Grewal were invited to deliver a talk on the topic of “How Diversity and Inclusion are Changing Legal Business”. She also attended some Special Business Team Meetings including “Real Estate” and “Joint Meeting of Arbitration, ADR, Sports Media and Entertainment”.
Stevenson, Wong & Co. is delighted to announce that we will host the Interlaw 2019 Asia Pacific Regional Meeting between 20-23 February 2019. We look forward to meeting and welcoming delegates and guests to Hong Kong.



From left to right: Director of International Marketing and Communications of Interlaw Ms. Imogen Lee, Partner of Stevenson, Wong & Co. Ms. Lai Lam, Partner of Hunt & Hunt Lawyers Mr. Brett Hearnden, Former EMEA Board Director Mr. Jeremy Schrire and Managing Partner of Blumenthal Richter & Sumet Mr. Andreas Richter
Should you have any enquiries about this event, please contact Mr. Willy Cheng or Ms. Lai Lam.
On 8 June 2018, Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, Ms. Heidi Chui was invited to attend an event in Beijing, hosted by Women in Arbitration (“WIA”). The event was attended by nearly 50 distinguished guests including the former chairman of the Appellate Body in WTO, arbitrator of ICSID Ms. Zhang Yue Jiao, ambassador of Zimbabwe Ms. Mavis Sibanda, representatives from arbitration institutions, in-house solicitors, practising lawyers, arbitrators and judges.

The welcome speech was given by Ms. Yeung Ling, the vice secretary of the Hong Kong Arbitration Center and the chairman of Shanghai Association. She also delivered a speech on the topic of “Arbitrations and Women: Situation, Confusion and Effort”. Afterwards, the guests and the participants held discussions on womens’ development in the field of arbitration.

The former chairman of the Appellate Body in WTO, arbitrator of ICSID Ms. Zhang Yue Jiao and Ms. Heidi Chui


Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association Ms. Winnie Tam
Women in Arbitration (“WIA”) is an initiative committed to the promotion and success of female practitioners in international arbitration and related practice areas in China. WIA will provide a forum for members to consider and discuss current topics, grow networks and business relationships, and develop the next generation of leading female practitioners.
For enquiries or further information about this event, please contact Ms. Heidi Chui.
On 7 June 2018, Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner Mr. Stephen Wong attended Kingston Financial Group Limited 25th Anniversary Cocktail Reception held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Board of Directors from Kingston Financial Group Limited such as Mr. Chu, Nicholas Yuk-yui and Dr. Chu Yuet Wah celebrated the pride and joy with more than 2,000 distinguished guests including Deputy Director Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong S.A.R Mr. Chen Dong, Secretary for Security Mr. John Lee Ka-chiu, Secretary for Education Mr. Kevin Yeung Yun-hung and Secretary for Development Mr. Michael Wong.



Please contact Mr. Stephen Wong for any enquiries or further information about this event.
On 7th June 2018, Stevenson, Wong & Co. Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, Ms. Heidi Chui attended the annual meeting and the 30th anniversary dinner of China Appointed Attesting Officers Limited (“CAAO”) at JW Marriott Hotel. There were many distinguished guests including representatives from the Ministry of Justice PRC, CAAOs and members of China Legal Service (H.K.) Ltd. and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The chairman of CAAO, Mr. Benny Yeung gave a welcome speech at the dinner. Director-General of Department of Law of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Mr. Wang Zhenmin, the Solicitor General of the Department of Justice Mr. Wesley Wong, Deputy Director of Ministry of Justice PRC Mr. Shi Han Sheng and chairman of China Legal Service (H.K.) Ltd. Mr. Du Mao also delivered speeches.

Director-General of Department of Law of Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Mr. Wang Zhenmin and Ms. Heidi Chui


The Solicitor General of the Department of Justice Mr. Wesley Wong and Ms. Heidi Chui

For further information about this event, please contact Ms. Heidi Chui.
(中文) 大数据与国际合作带来了查税方法变天:揭露最新查税案例,顺道“考察”美国取消自首计划与CRS最新执行规则,老好日子过去了!

这是最近更多客户需要公司架构重组,交易流程设计,税务体检梳理,合理税务规划,家族信托搭建,身份税籍安排,代持关系纠正,资产保护方案等的原因。通过私人银行与家族办公室的询问明显增多。
1)警税合作抓捕买票企业

营改增为金税三期税务信息联网创造良好条件。国家税务总局公告[2017]第16号文《关于增值税发票开局有关问题的公告》,明确增值税发票需要有购买方纳税人识别号才可以作为税收凭证。
看似不重要的税号,发票开给谁就更清楚了,整个利润网就这样建立。不管企业如何申报利润,税局已经通过这个发票网掌握了每家企业大概利润情况。就像孩子撒谎,父母早知道,只是有没有说穿而已。
不只这样,税局同时更了解各行业开销情况;行业平均数据对比被查企业情况,买票企业清单就到手了,税局查税没难度。这就是大数据的威力!
当时我们预测抓捕买票企业的时候来了。言犹在耳,北京海淀国税局与警方联合550余人,抓捕上百买票企业负责人,涉及发票 2.8亿(4800份)。本来税局就懂数据分析;现在加上公安的执法与侦查优势作举证后盾,这就是税局执法新常态,各位企业主小心了!
其实增值税是有筹划空间的。游戏规则改变了,为什么还在难为财务长呢?
2)跨境情报交换征查个税

国家税务总局《个人所得税自行纳税申报方法》规定,年所得12万元以上的纳税人,在纳税年度结束3个月内,应当向税局独立办理申报。这个看似多余的申报,却使高收入人群(主要是企业主与高管)没法在企业代扣代缴个税下免责。
我们在做客户讲座或培训时经常发现一个现象:中国企业主都知道美国是全球所得征税,却不知道中国也是!结论:海外所得的个税申报是不能以“代扣代缴”为借口的。对有离岸公司操作外贸的企业主或有海外股权的IT新贵影响最大。
这个规定已经实施超过10年了,随着大数据的技术发展,税局更灵活运用征管系统与资产联网,很容易“看到”哪个高收入人士在“裸泳”:
东莞地税局在2014年10月已经开始分析全市境外人员个税数据,结合第三方信息如行业薪酬标准,发现一准上市企业外籍高管年薪明显偏低(约12万)。通过3轮约谈,补税470多万后;特别的是,专案组居然没有罢休,罕有向出入境部门了解有关员工出入境情况,再要求外国当局交换海外收入资料。通过几年努力,该企业在2017年共补5年个税3608万元。
其实,国际涉税信息交换协定已经签了很多年了,实操难度是“向哪个国家提出交换请求”,案例问“原居国”是应该比较容易掌握了。由此路进,移民国如果向中国问资料。。。。。。进入全球资产联网的时代,大大降低国际涉税信息交换协定应用的难度,对有海外收入/身份人士杀伤力是巨大的!
3)海外子公司未分配投资所得“被分红”

以上说的,包含企业增值税,也包含企业主或高管的个税。税务的网还包括海外公司的未分配利润。最近很多企业主收到海外银行要求申报海外公司的“税籍”,他们通过各种渠道询问应对方案。
《企业所得税法》第四十五条规定,“受控外国企业”指由中国人或中国公司控制,企业所得税低于12.5%的境外公司(例如岛国公司),无合理经营需要不分红或减少分红(纳税人需举证),未分配利润应当视为中国股东的股息(消极所得)。
控制包括持股或对资金,经营,购销等方面的实质控制;当中管理地的认定考虑所有事实,例如:董事会会议与董事办公地点。以往由于信息不对称,“合理经营需要”与“消极所得”判断常起纠纷,查税案例较少。为加强管理,2014年起要求中国股东递交《居民企业参股外国企业信息报告表》;税务机关也透过商务,外管,国际涉税信息交换等渠道,更好获得有关企业的经营数据。
2017年,北京国税局主动分析组织架构,外内网信息,报送国资委材料,确认一中国企业3家岛国子公司存在涉税疑点。无实质经营,无合理需要,未分配利润被认定为居民企业当年所得。约谈补税3年共7000万元。实操上,税局可能在审查时查看董事会决议,会议纪要,预算报告,银行对账单,外汇等资料。
为鼓励中国企业海外利润回国,如为“境外注册居民企业”,国内母公司拿到分红时不会被重复征税,也没有股利的预提所得税及以上“受控外国企业”投资收益被分红的规定 。“境外注册居民企业”身份可以由纳税人申请或税务机关认定。审批注重控股架构,交易模式,无形资产布局,价值链布建各方面。合理布局海外公司的功能,人员,风险与利润的分配,是所有“走出去”企业与个人需要注意的,好好与你的税务顾问沟通。
4)美国关闭多年税务自首计划

美国减税成功,可是好戏在后头;就是税务自首计划的取消。
如果美国公民,绿卡持有者,外籍居民(连续3年每年40天左右 )的海外账户与公司等没有即时申报,他们可以使用“海外自愿披露计划”(OVDP)处理。该计划在2009年开始以来,超过56,000人使用,涉及美元111亿的税款,利息与罚金。但是,该计划将会在2018年9月28日关闭。
另外的“简化申请合规程序”(Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures)可能也会被关掉,这个程序过去也有额外65,000人士使用。不同计划的区别是资格,罚款,审查,刑责等的不同,主要是协助想要回归正规,诚实申报的纳税人免除刑事起诉和民事处罚的目的。以后会继续靠教育,举报,民事审查与刑事起诉等工具打击海外逃税行为。说白了就是联网做好了,不用提供鼓励政策吧。准备材料需要时间,尽快与税务顾问沟通一下能否搭尾班车了。
最近求助个案:某二代马上移民登陆,父母却向他披露原来代持了很多父母公司股权,父母要求其放弃移民,避免巨大海外税负。这个不是最坏的案例,我们碰过很多孩子都在海外居住了很多年,父母疏忽导致孩子‘被逃税’的情况。请记住资产保护是源头做起的, 合资格人士应该考虑家族信托作为资产保险柜。转移资产给孩子可能等于转移问题给他们;不当代持在税务,婚姻,继承上有巨大风险。尤其美加等承认事实婚姻,没有婚前财产概念的国家,当心孩子的前同居女友把资产分掉啊!不管签了什么文件,在“逃税”的动机面前,估计都不敢真拿出来维权的。
5)最新CRS执行规定

近期CRS有关居留权的文件里对购买护照,居留权,协助取得税号等增加了严格补充。CRS 规避方法的强制披露文件里把关注点延伸为没有合理原因的所有“安排”,例如不当代持,间接控制等。 早年已经说了,CRS是披露所有税籍的,机构有合理性审查的义务,能“合理相信”有那么多开户人住在一个岛却管理着中国工厂,又大老远跑来境外开户吗?2年前已经有机构要求以“新护照”开户人提供“过期护照”,现在愈来愈多的表格出现微妙的变化,例如要求披露过去一年或几年在某城市的居住天数等。还不要忘记手机的另一个名字叫“全球定位跟踪器”,网银交易有发密码到开户手机吧!
中国也把反洗钱的规定纳入CRS的执行范围 -大家可能不习惯境外私人银行都在开户前审查资金来源合法性。零售与商业银行也会在发现异常交易时电邮或电话“了解情况”或关户。 加入CRS这个国际标准,为国内税改提供有力支持。看看这几年国务院有关资产联网,税务信息大数据的指令,人民银行指示“大额”交易上报等就知道了。大额交易被定义为人民币5万现金存款或50万的个人转账而已。企业,个人,纳税等交易痕迹都是擦不掉的,持有国内资产人士更需要注意:谁在“裸泳”已经知道,只是什么时候找谁行动而已 。
不管如何,一如既往的说法,匿藏资产不是策略,尽早在法律的框架下合理规划与更好的隔离“好资产”是皇道。
如需了解更多税务梳理与资产保护方案,请联系你的家族办公室。史蒂文生黄律师事务所除提供各种法律服务外,成立了香港及新西兰信托公司,可为客户提供信托咨询或受托人服务。为各家族办公室的重要合作伙伴。
附属信托公司曾荣获香港家族办公室协会颁发“最具特色家族海外信托策划服务奖。”分享资讯助人自助,谢谢关注微信公众号或浏览官方网站www.sw-hk.com。如需节录或转载,请注明资料来源为微信公众号swc_hk。
承蒙各位厚爱:报告2018年已获荣誉,定必继续努力:
1)2018年度国际咨询专家大奖 – 年度香港企业融资律师
2)《Corporate INTL 杂志》2018 环球大奖 – 年度香港家事调解律师事务所
3)Corporate USA Today年度大奖 2018 – 年度香港家事法律师事务所
4)Lawyer International – Legal 100 2018大獎 – 年度香港家事法律师事务所
5)Corporate LiveWire 2017/18年度法律大奖 -「年度商业律师事务所-中国」
6)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 银行与金融
7)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 资本市场
8)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 公司合并及收购
9)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 诉讼及争议解决
10)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 金融服务监管
11)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 高度推荐律师事务所 – 破产重组
12)《亚洲法律概况 2018》 推荐律师事务所 – 房地产与建筑
13)金融月刊法律大奖2018 提名 – 年度家事法律师事务所 – 香港区
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