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ITSG Conferences
Every year ITSG holds two conferences: a European conference and the worldwide annual conference.
Above is the group photograph from the 2019 world-wide conference held in Dubai, U.A.E.
In 2020 the worldwide conference will be held in Valencia, Spain.
The conference is open only to ITSG members and a limited number of invited guests.
Here is a summary of the program for the latest conference that took place in Dubai — November 6 - 8, 2019.
| Wednesday, November 6, 2019 | |
| SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DAY | |
| Athletes and Entertainers A case study about relocation of an entertainer. Taxation of athletes playing in a league. | |
| Estate Planning Governance challenges in passing the family business to the next generation. Surprisingly, many wealthy families complain about lack of liquidity. | |
| BREAK | |
| Tax Treaty Issues New special interest group on emerging tax treaty issues. Topics may include limitation of benefits and principal purpose test, permanent establishment and allocation of profits. | |
| Lunch (Note: There will be a working lunch for Managing Partners (those who are tasked with running a firm or a major group within a firm) to discuss practice management issues. Others are welcome to listen to the discussion.) | |
| Foreign Correspondent Desk Setting up a foreign desk within your firm. What are the challenges and costs / benefits? Experiences from ITSG members who have done this. | |
| BREAK | |
| Steering Committee Meeting | |
| COCKTAIL RECEPTION AND DINNER | |
| Thursday, November 7, 2019 | |
| Welcome and Introduction | |
| Host Country, UAE With no real taxation in U.A.E., discussion will focus on setting up in U.A.E., forms of entities, use as a holding company jurisdiction, requirements to become resident and tax treaties. Practical issues of setting up in U.A.E. | |
| Special Tax Regimes for Individuals Countries – U.K., Cyprus, Malta, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Israel, China, U.S. A look at advantageous tax arrangements in selected countries around the world. | |
| BREAK | |
| Need for Substance A look at new substance requirements in the E.U. and other countries. | |
| LUNCH | |
| GAAR A look at forms of GAAR around the world; Canada, U.K., Australia, India and China. A case study on a GAAR analysis. | |
| Investment Protection Treaties Worthwhile or worthless, what are they, what do they do? | |
| BREAK | |
| Tax Cases in the E.U. An update on cases in the E.U. at the European Court of Justice including the Apple Case. | |
| Open Session A chance for any delegate to raise a question or speak on a matter. | |
| Group Photo | |
| GALA DINNER (Buses depart at 19:00) | |
| Friday, November 8, 2019 | |
| European Tax Update The always popular update on European tax developments. This will cover only certain selected countries. | |
| Digital Economy Discussion of taxation of digital economy, bitcoin, blockchain, taxing the internet and other aspects of this subject. | |
| Investing in Israel's High-Tech Sector What you need to know about taxation in Israel before you invest. | |
| BREAK | |
| Taxpayer Rights and Morality A look at developments in Taxpayer Rights. Are we going forwards or backwards? Where does morality become relevant to taxation? | |
| Asia Tax Update Tax update on selected Asian countries. | |
| LUNCH | |
| Multi-Lateral Instrument Who's in and more importantly who is out? What are the implications? | |
| U.S. Tax Update What you need to know about the recent U.S. tax reform. How has it changed planning strategies? Perspectives from inside and outside the U.S. | |
| Open Session | |
| Closing Remarks / Conference Adjourns | |
| INFORMAL DINNER (Depart hotel at 18:00) | |