WTS is an international group of consulting companies operating in the areas of tax consulting and business consulting. The core of WTS’ work includes tax and legal advice to multinational groups, national and international SMEs and private individuals. The range of services has recently been significantly extended in the areas of investment tax law, M&A, private clients and non-profit organisations. In business consulting, WTS specialises in particular in financial advisory as well as national and international accounting services. With more than 400 employees in seven German offices, the group of WTS professional companies is one of the largest international tax consulting practices in Germany. The group is represented in more than 90 countries through WTS Alliance. WTS exclusively focuses on consultancy services to avoid any potential conflicts with auditing activities. Members of the board of directors at WTS Group are Fritz Esterer and Prof Dr Alexander Hemmelrath.

The company’s success rests on its main pillars: tax and business consulting with a total of twelve areas of competence.

Tax consulting
WTS offers legal and tax consulting services with both general tax experts and specialists in specific areas of taxation. Its consultants are comprised of tax advisers, tax representatives and lawyers. Due to its worldwide network, WTS is able to offer its clients expertise around the globe. Tax consulting includes expert advice in the following disciplines:

– Corporate Tax Advisory
– Integrated Tax Services
– Transactions
– Asset Management and Financial Services
– Real Estate Taxes
– Supply Chain Strategy
– Governance and Compliance Advisory
– Private Clients and HR Tax Services

Business consulting
Business consulting operates under the brand name Fortesse Consulting and is responsible for the fields:

– Financial Advisory
– Restructuring and Turnaround
– Process and Risk Management
– Accounting Services

Within the WTS Group, Fortesse Consulting offers CFO-close business consulting. The range of services includes both, comprehensive project consulting as well as the acquisition of commercial services in the context of business operations. These include in particular the advice on accounting, compliance and risk management, as well as restructuring. The implementation-orientated advice is based on in-depth business knowledge combined with years of practical experience. This guarantees the provision of high quality and proactive advice to international companies, medium-sized private and public companies and financial investors.

Around the globe through WTS Alliance
WTS Alliance is a global network of selected tax consulting firms and is represented by its partners in more than 90 countries. Since its foundation in 2003, WTS Alliance is regarded as a trendsetter in cross-border tax cooperation. WTS Alliance’s activities are coordinated by German-based WTS Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH. For the admission of new members WTS Alliance has imposed strict selection criteria. In 2010 the members improved their uniform market presence by founding the WTS Alliance Association.

Private clients
Advice to individuals on personal-legal and tax issues requires a trustworthy tax and legal advisor, who understands the unique situation and acts proactively. To the circle of our national and international private clients we count not only wealthy families or individuals, but also managers and CEOs of large corporations.

Among other issues, the work revolves around tax optimisation of domestic and international investments, business succession or charitable activities. Private client advisory provides a comprehensive approach. Apart from preparing income tax statements, support is offered in cases of cross boarder relocation, fiscal change of status and tax audits, issues on residency and double taxation. Tax advice is also rendered on share-based payment instruments (stock options, phantom stocks, stock awards, etc.), deferred compensation and pension plans, respectively.

To family-run companies frictionless succession arrangements are crucial for securing the continuity of the company. Prof Dr Hemmelrath and his team develop concepts for suitable company and wealth succession, create and customise prenuptial agreements, contracts of inheritance, articles of association as well as wills. They also provide advice in the fields of inheritance tax law, gift tax law as well as valuation law for national and international constellations along with the preparation of inheritance tax and gift tax declarations.

Non-profit organisations such as foundations, associations and charitable limited liability companies are provided with formation advice by Prof Dr Hemmelrath and his team, including the assistance during the entire formation process such as the generation of statutes and articles of association and the processing of non-profit status issues.

Tax declarations are prepared, assistance at audits is offered and compliance processes are implemented. All business transactions and accounting services are carried out in cooperation with Fortesse Consulting.

Tax services for HR departments
WTS’ international and national network of experts renders advice to companies as well as expatriate employees.

Global expatriate services encompass all aspects of delegation of employees in tax, labour and social law issues relating to cross-border delegations and the preparation of domestic and international income tax returns.

Another important aspect of HR tax services is wage tax advice. Payroll tax for employees is paid by the employer directly to the state. Changes in income tax law inevitably have financial and administrative consequences for the company. The legal regulations in the field of income tax are not only subject to constant change, but may also seem to be getting increasingly confusing. This causes a high risk for companies as they might pay too little income tax, for instance due to wrongful lump sum consolidation. Wage tax audits can then result in substantial interest payments which will incriminate a company’s operating profit.

WTS emphasises a practical approach to consulting, developing creative, tailored and pragmatic solutions. This again is reflected by the integrative approach to consulting, in which both the interests of the company as employer and the employee are borne in mind. It is important to identify tax risks at an early stage to optimise wage tax payments and keep the administrative burdens to a minimum. WTS experts, being the clients’ permanent advisors, provide advice and support during projects such as income tax audits, in the conception of corporate policies (travel expenses, company cars, hospitality, corporate events, etc.), or by generating flexible systems of remuneration and working time models (occupational pensions, working time account models, etc.). The WTS team further renders expert reports on current legal issues and obtains appeal information from fiscal authorities.

The strategies for success
WTS’ integrative and tailored approach to consulting makes a definitive contribution towards reducing tax-related risks. Experienced generalists and high-calibre specialists from major companies, consulting firms and the tax administration make up the teams of WTS advisors. WTS employees guarantee the success of the client’s business. With excellent qualifications, they work enthusiastically and effectively at the highest professional level.

They are solution-focused with a high degree of personal responsibility. With decision-making as one of their key strengths, our employees are appreciated by clients as valuable business partners.

WTS consistently pursues its strategy to attain a leading market position in all important areas of tax and business consulting while also providing  its clients with access to a highly efficient worldwide network.

Prof Dr Alexander Hemmelrath is a board member of WTS Group

For more information tel: +49 (0) 89 28 646 0; Email: alexander.hemmelrath@wts.de; www.wts.de