Tax, contract and visa assistance
Services available to companies and their employees
We have years of experience dealing with corporate expatriate programs and have seen programs of every shape, color and size; hence, we know what works and what doesn’t. The costs associated with sending expatriates abroad are considerable: the company generally incurs a minimum of 3 times the domestic cost of the employee in sending him or her abroad, while the employee’s costs are more personal in that the family may or may not follow and the employee’s career path may suffer if the assignment is not properly managed.
Given all that’s at stake, it’s worthwhile to get solid advice and even a second opinion. As demonstrated by the following case study, we can help out with the following services:
- Review of an expatriate program policy for potential improvements;
- Assessment of an expatriate employee’s proposed remuneration package for market congruency, tax implications and social security considerations;
- Any other related activity such as tax return preparation, obtaining tax identification numbers, etc.
- Business cultural awareness training.
Case study – New expats left to cope entirely on their own in southern Italy
Recognizing that sending an employee abroad can create difficulties for the employee both personally and financially, most employers provide for some sort of tax assistance when it sends employees abroad. One of our clients, however, did not and the results were close to disastrous.
Unbeknownst to this company’s departing employees, Italian taxes are higher than in their home country so it was a most unwelcome surprise when we met to discover that the income package that had seemed so appealing at home wouldn’t get them very far in Italy. This company had not implemented a policy that would have covered a portion of each employee’s tax liability nor had it given the employees any sort of background information that would have prepared them for their assignments.
The employees were furious and, in fact, a number sent in their resignations immediately and returned home. Those who remained felt abandoned and deceived by the company. Needless to say, morale was almost nonexistent and the project they were sent to work on had only just begun.
Realizing that the low morale and the potential departure of additional employees would put the project at risk, the company asked us to analyze the compensation packages with an eye for reducing overall costs. We were able to propose changes that reduced the tax liability for the employees without creating additional, unbudgeted costs for the company. We also helped in the implementation phase, revising contracts and calculating the reduced tax liabilities.
Once things settled down from a tax perspective, we did a “living and working in Italy” orientation training with them and their families. This session covered the important cultural differences in daily life (both society and at work) between their home country and Italy. This also helped them with answers to their specific questions which included a list of English-speaking doctors and dentists in the area, where to find certain products and local events that could be of interest to the families.
The expatriates and their families are now settled into their new homes and have integrated into the local community.
Click here for services available to individuals
For more details on Tax, contract and visa assistance
Contact us at 
Moving to Italy? |
Business cultural awareness training |
Culture shock and integration coaching |
Local contact in Northern Italy
|
