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Indirect taxation, VAT, customs duties lawyers

With over 70 years’ experience in matters relating to turnover tax and indirect taxation, our firm takes pride in its expert reputation, which is widely recognised in both national and international markets. This recognition has its foundations in our teams’ highly-specialised knowledge. Our success in litigation before domestic and European courts cements both our firm’s position as a leader in the field of indirect taxation and our reputation for excellence.
This expertise centres on three main areas: VAT and payroll tax, indirect taxation and customs duties.

Their expert knowledge of issues involving VAT and similar taxes enables our specialist lawyers offer advice and assistance on the full range of matters in play (VAT, reporting requirements and legal obligations, invoicing rules, VAT-related taxes, payroll tax), both in France and abroad. This means that, regardless of the nature of your business or where you operate, we can work alongside you to fulfil your needs for assistance, auditing, advice and litigation in the following domains: property transactions; capital operations, structuring and restructuring; banking, financial and insurance transactions; cross-border transactions (both within and outside the EU), transactions conducted by public legal entities or by non-profit organisations. We can also help you with issues of compliance with your VAT-related legal obligations.

Our lawyers can also help you with any matters involving indirect contributions, VAT-related taxes and other taxes on turnover (such as compliance with existing legal standards, management of reporting requirements, litigation, etc.), financial transactions, both from the legal perspective and in terms of implementation. Furthermore, we offer assistance with any problems relating to the French contribution sociale de solidarité des sociétés (corporate social solidarity contribution, or C3S).

In a world of increasing globalisation, where digital technology is gathering momentum, much is being done to harmonise indirect taxation, which has a direct impact on the free movement of goods and the freedom to provide services, particularly with the new Union Customs Code coming into effect. Designed to adapt European customs legislation to developments in international trade, with the dual aims of preventing tax evasion and eliminating double taxation, these provisions are also intended to modernise, simplify and optimise customs procedures (e.g. by introducing mandatory electronic invoicing). This creates restrictions, or even risks, for your company, as you have to constantly ensure compliance with these changing regulations, but indirect taxation also offers you the potential to get the best out of your cash-flow and your supply chain.

In all these areas, our lawyers work in close collaboration with the firm’s other teams and draw upon our international network to offer you pragmatic and sustainable solutions that are tailored to your individual circumstances and goals. Our know-how, widely recognised by the tax authorities, means that we are able to best serve your interests, whilst providing you with the utmost legal certainty.

 
Armelle Abadie
Armelle Abadie
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Armelle Abadie joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 2006. She advises companies on their day-to-day issues, as well as on the follow-up and management of tax audits and litigation, or on specific assignments...
Christophe Aldebert
Christophe Aldebert
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Christophe Aldebert is a tax specialist with expertise in VAT matters. He works with a diverse clientele of financial institutions and mutual companies in the following areas: the VAT and indirect tax...
Elisabeth Ashworth
Elisabeth Ashworth
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Elisabeth Ashworth joined the Tax Intelligence Department of CMS Francis Lefebvre in May 2008. She works closely with the VAT units which are made up of about 30 lawyers, of which seven partners. Former...
Gaëtan Berger-Picq
Gaëtan Berger-Picq
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Gaëtan Berger-Picq joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1997 and became a partner in 2008. Gaëtan specializes in VAT planning and consultancy, particularly in real-estate VAT
Frédéric Bertacchi
Frédéric Bertacchi
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Frédéric Bertacchi joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 2006, coopted partner in 2020. Frédéric provides assistance and advice on VAT matters in the following sectors: public bodies, non-profit organisations...
Henri Bitar
Henri Bitar
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Henri Bitar joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1998 after having worked at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He specialises in VAT planning and consultancy, intra-EU trade, exports, bank and finance, real estate, and...
Anne Grousset
Anne Grousset
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Anne Grousset joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1983, and partner since 1998. Anne specialises in VAT and Indirect Taxation, she co-manages the VAT team and the European VAT team. She regularly advises...
William Hamon
William Hamon
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
William Hamon joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 2007, he has conducted numerous audits on the correct application by companies of the VAT rules relating to their flows of goods and services. William deals...
Nathalie Pétrignet
Nathalie Petrignet
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Nathalie joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1989 and became a partner in 2009. She is actively involved in national and European competition law, restrictive practices, commercial negotiations and distribution...
Denis Redon
Denis Redon
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Denis joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1990 and became a partner in 2004. His practice encompasses all areas of EU and French competition law. He frequently oversees merger notification procedures and advises...