BNA Author Explores Impact of Value Added Tax on U.S. Businesses Doing Business Abroad

With an increasing number of U.S. companies doing business abroad, more and more business entities are facing Value Added Tax (VAT ) – a tax levied on the supply of goods and services in almost every country outside the U.S.  Now, companies with operations outside the U.S. need to understand how VAT works, how to comply with the diverse VAT rules, and how to ensure that VAT does not become a cost of doing business.  BNA Tax & Accounting’s webinar, Value Added Tax For U.S. Companies – The Basics, Challenges, And Opportunities, led by VAT authority Mark Houtzager on August 17, provides that introduction.

Houtzager will focus the discussion with VAT basics, highlight the importance of strategic VAT management, and address solutions to some typical VAT pitfalls. His presentation covers:

• The importance of VAT for operations outside the U.S.
• Simple techniques for optimizing your VAT position
• Recent developments in the VAT world, including a brief primer on the potential of VAT in the U.S.

Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concept of VAT, and how VAT impacts on your organization
• Start to identify potential VAT sensitivities and opportunities within your company's operations and billing/accounting systems
• Understand that VAT exemptions may be costly, and that recent simplifications in the VAT rules are not necessarily cost-effective

About the Speaker 

Mark Houtzager is a U.S.-based consultant and thought leader on Value Added Tax and Customs, with 20 years of hands-on experience in supporting U.S. companies with the transaction tax impact of their non-U.S. operations. He has been sharing his VAT knowledge through web- and podcasts, and through numerous articles in practical and academic publications. His latest essay, on the use of technology in a potential VAT in the U.S., is scheduled for publication in January 2011.

Originally from the Netherlands, Houtzager has been working in various European countries and in Singapore for a Big 4 accounting firm, before settling in the U.S. in 2001. Recently he started his own consulting firm: US VAT, Inc. Please refer to www.us-vat.com for more information.

Value Added Tax For U.S. Companies will take place August 17, from 12:30 AM - 2:00 PM, ET.  To register for this webinar and obtain further information about CLE and CPE credits, go to http://www.bna.com/value-added-tax-w2147485684/?open&cmpid=tmtxpr2011 or call 1-800-372-1033, menu Option 6, then Option 1.  To receive automatic, email notification of upcoming BNA webinars that may be of interest to you, go to: http://www.bna.com/emailsignup.htm

About BNA Tax & Accounting Webinars 

BNA Tax & Accounting is the foremost source of tax and accounting research, news, practice tools, and guidance for tax attorneys, CPAs, corporate tax managers, estate planners, and financial accountants.  Designed for today's busy practitioners, our webinars offer the same expertise and relevance that are the hallmark of all BNA Tax & Accounting resources. Conference attendees have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions, and may be eligible to earn CLE or CPE credits - all from the convenience of their own office or conference room.