Braxton Consulting

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Description

Braxton Group is a holding company, which operates in Real Estate, Private Equity, advisory and outsourcing business through subsidiary companies. The collective group of companies uses “Braxton” as its marketing identity.

Braxton Consulting is an international professional services firm whose mission is to help leading corporations create and sustain competitive advantage. As a truly international firm, our strong global presence offers clients and employees a wealth of cross-cultural experience. For many years, we have provided quality tax, financial advisory and consulting services to businesses through the active involvement of our most experienced and committed professionals. Our advantages are:

Client focused
Boutique-level responsiveness
Pragmatic approach
Experienced professionals

Individual Excellence, Team Performance

Braxton has been created to give you access to the best expertise for each of your needs by providing international team of advisers that can provide guidance on a broad range of issues that you may ever face.
Our advisers are amongst the best in their respective fields but they are also driven individuals, keen to make a difference by enhancing your business.
Our ambition is to genuinely add value to your business and become seen as a valuable part of your team so that we can watch your business grow and succeed into the future.

Braxton Consulting is a leading firm of accountants, management consultants, lawyers, family office advisers, outsourcing specialists and other professional advisers serving entrepreneurial people and organizations worldwide.

Our Principles

Braxton Consulting is committed to the principle and practice of "Know Your Customer". This means that Braxton Consulting will require certain information and documentation on the prospective client prior to accepting any new business. Our compliance standards and procedures meet and, in many cases, exceed the regulatory minimum.

We are recognised as a leading global corporate and trust service provider and the employer of choice. Our values of compliance, client focus, quality and empowerment drive our behaviours. Leadership in the industry, enthusiastic and self-directed staff and the application of professional expertise enhances every client interaction. As the provider of choice, our clients and staff actively promote our services.

Compliance - We give the highest priority to maintaining an effective compliance regime and culture. A positive approach to compliance influences all we do. Our objective is to deliver compliance in a manner that leaves our clients with honour and respect.

Client Focus - After compliance and at the heart of our core values is the concept of client focus. We must never forget that our clients are the reason we are here.

Quality - Quality is about delivering services that not only meet challenging standards but also continuously surprise and delight. We mobilise all our staff towards the achievement of service excellence. A commitment to quality is inherent in everything we do.

Empowerment - Our success depends on our ability to engage and enthuse staff and to find ways of releasing more of the enormous potential that exists within Braxton Consulting. This happens because we are serious in our commitment to staff empowerment. Our entire development agenda is based on the principle of involving staff.

Our values set the standard for all Braxton Consulting staff at every level.

We adhere to uncompromising principles of truth, trust and ethics.
We treat clients and each other with fairness and respect.
We honour our personal and team commitments.
We anticipate and respond promptly to all concerns, problems, ideas and requests.
We behave in a legal, fair and balanced manner.

Our business is based on the following principles:

Problem-solving orientation - We intervene to offer specialised solutions to companies and individuals, to create know-how and to generate added value.

Professionalism in an international context - We can count on competent and highly qualified professionals. Thanks to their expertise our group can respond with the appropriate know-how to the most wide ranging situations.

Network of associates and strategic alliances - We also benefits, in addition to the presence of its own affiliates and operating offices, from the collaboration of a wide network of qualified external associates and strategic alliances allowing us to serve our clients in over 45 countries. Moreover, as a result of strong relationships developed over many years, we can also turn to the most prestigious external specialists.

Multilingualism - All our professionals are fluent in different languages.

Interdisciplinary approach - The scale of our activities is such as to guarantee to us the expertise of professionals with specialisations in various sectors, from corporate to legal consulting, from international tax planning to insurance consulting and auditing.These experts, co-ordinated by a project manager, work together to identify the problems and develop the right solutions.

General overview and integration - Our specialised interventions in particular sectors also include the identification of any conflict or interference with other operating areas of our client. On demand we can single out the pros and cons that such a situation could involve.

Promptness - The strong internal co-ordination of our professionals and the constant availability of know-how guarantee a prompt and timely execution of the various stages of our professional mandate.

Flexibility - Our interventions are tailored to the specific requirements of our clients with whom we define the areas to be examined, the methods to be used, the timing, the scope and the depth of the audits.

Transparency and predetermined costs - Costs and fees of any professional mandate are discussed with the client and approval obtained is prior to any charges being incurred.

Collaboration with Professionals - We believe business ownership is the ultimate tool for rewarding performance and motivating sales professionals. Local business owners are more likely to satisfy their customers because they have made a significant investment in business ownership.

Some of our services are usually distributed more efficiently by local owners than by employees of large corporations. However, in order for local associates to compete with large corporations, they must have competitvely priced products, operational economies of scale, management depth, marketing staff, branding and some of the other support that a large corporation provides to its employees.

Professionals often encounter complex queries. We provide such professionals with the knowledge base they need to deliver a first-rate service to their clients.

We will answer their queries quickly and keep them up-to-date with current International practice. There is no concern over competition –our business relationship is with the adviser, not their clients.
It will enable the professional to provide their clients with an additional service. This service can be provided under the advisers firm’s name or direct by our firm. They will benefit because their client does not look elsewhere for a service they require.
This will help increase their turnover, and retain clients.

Our Advantage is your advantage:

The service is up to date, enhance and fully self sufficient. Your clients gain the advantage of trading on a world-class information, execution and risk ,management system.
Braxton provides effective service-we focus our “best practices” on supporting a partners work in lead generation, marketing, management, sales and account activation. The advantage for the partner is a rapid ascent up the learning curve.
The division of labor empowers the partner-Braxton provides the service and value advice while the partner provides the brand, the identity and local marketplace sales and marketing.
The distribution of revenue encourages efficient business the model for the partnership is designed for the retail marketplace. Pricing and commission structures encourage a revenue-sharing approach that’s leads to a “win-win” business attitude.

Your brand, not ours:

The service becomes your service. Your brand, your colors, logo and identity are what your clients will see not a mention of Braxton. The importance of this identity strategy is paramount to understanding the partnership principle at work. We expect our partners to deliver the service to their marketplace and support it a fully-operational business line with sales and service in the local language, from the local partner.

Business Pricing Strategies:

Braxton fundamental principle is to avoid conflicts of interest with our partners. Our Partners are encourage to offer the same pricing to their own clients as that offered by Braxton to our clients. Therefore, the white label partner can always choose to be fully competitive with our pricing and yet still earn substancial revenues.

Global Solutions

International Services
We are able to access expertise from quality accounting firms and business advisers across the globe.

International Taxation

Overview
International VAT legislation and practice is a complex and rapidly changing area. Keeping up to date can be time consuming and difficult. We have the resources and expertise to deal with it.

Why our firm?

Time saving - our service allows you to gain a competitive advantage. You can spend your time on your company while our specialists are taking care of the everyday complications of foreign taxes and rules.
One point of contact - one of our experts will be the your point of contact. He will co-ordinate the International VAT issues of your business. This ensures you always deal with the same person.
Specialists in international VAT, with more than 20 years of experience.
Adding value - Our activities across the sector receive the support and resources appropriate to ensure that we provide an excellent service at a reasonable price - "adding value" is a priority.
Regular work assessment - Because clients expect and deserve first class service. We undertake regular internal and external audit of our working practices to ensure we exceed client expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have received a demand notice for payment of tax. Why?
VAT Authorities have not received payment of the tax/duty liability which is described in the demand notice. You should therefore pay the outstanding debt without delay so as to avoid further recovery action. VAT Authorities have a responsibility to all taxpayers to ensure that all taxes and duties reach the Treasury. They also have a responsibility to ensure that businesses which fail to pay on time do not have an unfair advantage over those that do. This means taking prompt action to recover debts.

I am not able to pay the debt immediately because of a temporary "Cash Flow" problem. What should I do?
Make urgent contact with your bank or your financial advisor to explore means of overcoming these temporary financial difficulties.

I have consulted the bank/financial advisor but they are unable to help. What else can I do?
Without further delay contact the VAT Authorities of your country. They may be able to help you by agreeing a brief period in which to pay the debt. They will try to be as helpful as possible and will consider carefully all practical options for settlement. However, if these do not produce a solution or they do not receive a response to their request for payment, they may, like other creditors, take action to recover the money they are owed.

What is the difference between a taxable supply and an exempt supply?
Input VAT may be recovered on a taxable supply, while no input VAT can be recovered on an exempt supply.

What is the current deregistration limit?
It depends on the country concerned. In the UK, £53,000. Some firms with a turnover just above the registration threshold face getting caught in the 'VAT trap' - a particular risk for companies whose customers are not VAT-registered. Once a firm reaches the threshold, it is, in most cases, required to register for VAT and has to raise its prices accordingly. As a result, customers start opting for unregistered rivals, which are VAT rate cheaper and turnover drops below the threshold. So the business de-registers and lowers its prices. But, of course, cheaper prices mean more sales, and the cycle begins again.

Who ultimately pays VAT?
The final customer.

What is input VAT?
VAT charged to the business when it purchases goods or services.

What is output VAT?
VAT charged by the business when it supplies goods or services.
How long should a registered trader keep their invoices?
It depends of the country. Usually is between 4 and 11 years. In the UK, 6 years.

Does a charity have to pay VAT?
Local laws apply here. Generally speaking charities do have to pay VAT on the purchase of goods or services, however there is usually specific VAT relief available to some charities in some countries. They can be exempt from VAT when they purchase goods or services related with their activity.

How often should VAT returns be completed?
In the UK, the standard accounting period is every three months however there are exceptions to this and with agreement from H M Customs & Excise a trader may submit returns over different periods for example every month.

Should I appoint a Fiscal representative in Belgium?
As of 1 January 2002 foreign businesses established in the European Union may choose either to appoint an officially recognized authorized VAT representative in Belgium or may opt for direct VAT registration and hereby choose to fulfil VAT obligations in Belgium themselves. When one opts for direct registration, one can still appoint a third party to fulfil VAT obligations in Belgium.
For certain foreign businesses that are not established in Belgium, this may mean that a Belgian VAT registration is no longer required. Other foreign businesses may still be obliged to register for VAT purposes in Belgium.
Non-EU businesses remain obliged to appoint an officially recognized authorized VAT representative.

May the VAT Registration be necessary when costs are recharged?
Normally you do not need to register in a country in order to reclaim VAT on business expenses. But where several companies within a multi-national enterprise attend a conference, the head office may need to register if it recharges the conference costs out to the individual companies involved. Registration can be avoided if the conference is held in Germany. In some countries, the need to register for VAT purposes depends on the amounts involved.

Is worth the VAT recovery for business trips?
VAT costs on expenses such as accommodation, restaurants, and conference room rental vary considerably throughout Europe. For instance, the difference between the highest VAT cost - in Czech Republic - and the lowest - in Luxembourg - can be as much as Euro 125 for a 24-hour business meeting abroad. For a one night conference, the difference can be as much as Euro 240. Depending on the amounts involved, companies may or may not want to go through the process of recovery.

How much VAT can we recover in a conference?
Amounts recoverable vary throughout Europe, depending on where the meeting or conference is held. A few European countries allow you to recover the VAT amount on all expenses, many disallow recovery on one or two items, while some enable no VAT recovery at all. Sweden ranks highest for VAT recovery (100%) whilst in Greece, the Czech Republic and Poland a 0% VAT recovery rate exists for all travel and conference-related expenses.

Is VAT recovery easier for EU countries?
Reclaiming VAT can be a laborious procedure and the ease and speed with which it can be achieved again differs from country to country. Within EU, the repayment is through a procedure known as the 8th EU Directive. This involves filling out a relatively simple form, but application needs to be done, except in 2 countries, before the end of June in the following year. If the methods of recovery within the EU are harmonized, the 8th EU Directive will no longer exist and application will be carried out using a simpler procedure similar to that used to reclaim VAT locally.

Are the procedures for non-EU countries more complexes?
If a company in a non-EU country applies for recovery of VAT from an EU country, application is made through the 13th EU Directive procedure, which involves more formalities and can, therefore, be more costly and laborious. The company will usually need a representative.

How long does it take?
The time it takes to reclaim VAT varies. EU countries are duty bound to reimburse funds within six months of application, but some make efforts to grant recovery of VAT in less time and some may exceed the recommended time-scale. In some countries, like Hungary, claimants can receive interest from the tax authorities if the repayment is not made within the country's statutory period.

Have the invoices to be in the name of the company?
Most countries require invoices to be in the name of the company, so business travelers should be aware of this in advance. There are some exceptions. For instance Norway and UK accepts invoices in the name of employees, and in Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands this exception applies to accommodation and restaurants.

Which are the Thresholds?
Some countries will only allow refunds for VAT if the amount exceeds a given threshold, which is usually low and depend of the period (3 months or 1 year) of the application.

Why to know more about VAT?
VAT/GST is the world's primary method of taxing supplies of goods and services. All major trading nations (excluding USA) have a VAT system. Rates range from 0-25% and failure to consider VAT in pricing your goods/services could put you at a competitive disadvantage.
VAT is a self-assessing tax and the duty to register for VAT and correctly charge it falls on each individual business. The view of most tax authorities is that ignorance of the rules is not a reasonable excuse and should you fail to comply then you will be subject to penalties ranging from financial to criminal.

Are the service fees subject to VAT?
It has been widely assumed that all service fees are subject to VAT. This is not so as there are instances in which the charge is not subject to VAT.

What is the charge made for?
It is of crucial importance to distinguish between on the one hand charges made for providing advice to customers and on the other charges made for arranging "travel facilities" such as transport, accommodation etc.
Charges for advice will be subject to VAT in nearly all circumstances. The amount charged to the customer will be deemed to include VAT. However, VAT will not be due where the customer is a business based anywhere outside the country of invoicing or is a private individual resident outside the EU. Where the charge is made for giving advice, it makes no difference whether the advice is given in relation to accommodation, or transport or indeed any other service.

Entepreneurs

Braxton is the complete business service provider for entepreneurs.
By focusing on entepreneurs and their business we understand what dynamic, commercially driven business people are after.
In therms of service, you want people who are as passionate and committed to your venture as you are. We try hard to be some of these people.
If your business has financial difficulties, don't panic! Our business recovery experts handle many complex and routine asignments across a range of industry specialisms.

Corporate Finance
M&A
Transaction Support
Tax Planing
VAT Services
Consultancy
Corporate Advice
Outsourcing
Feasibility studies
International Tax
Family Development
Management Development
Business Planning
Shareholder Development
Strategy + Technology Development

Braxton was created by entrepreneurs, so we understand the entrepreneurial culture. Through the combination of innovation and business expertise, we assist our clients in identifying new business and investment opportunities. We have created thousands of businesses.

Braxton is a dedicated consulting practice that successfully combines our heritage as an advisory firm, entrepreneurial spirit, full-service capabilities and extraordinary responsiveness to serve business owners around the world. We will assign a partner with the relevant background to work directly with you. We can put an expert team at your disposal to advise you on both your business and personal needs, from tax and corporate compliance to consulting and corporate finance.

We have the technical resources required to monitor, interpret and implement solutions to address the issues and challenges surrounding the start of your business.. Our operating model was designed to most effectively serve the needs of our clients. By separating business development and service delivery, our team of professionals focuses on delivering unbiased and effective results.

We aim to treat each client's business with uncompromising urgency, integrity and exceptional value. The following are some specific services that Braxton offer to entrepreneurial clients:

Business planning
Braxton collaborates with other firm's divisions to produce business plans or strategic development plans for clients. On behalf of clients we have prepared business plans for a variety of audiences including financial institutions, private equity investors, venture capital funds and grant-aiding organisations.
The preparation of a business plan is also of value to senior management within companies as the process creates an opportunity to assess the development of the business and the resources required.

Feasibility Studies
Braxton regularly undertakes feasibility studies for a variety of clients. Typically, feasibility studies address factors as market demand, competitive profile, financial projections and funding requirements. While the subject and client types have been diverse, a consistent feature of our feasibility studies is that they contain an objective, research-based assessment of the issue under consideration.
This enables clients to make an informed assessment of the potential of their proposal prior to the commitment of significant resources to its development.

Strategy Development
An effective corporate strategy is essential to enable organisations to maximise their potential. The strategy development process begins with the establishment of the organisation's vision and an objective assessment of its capability to deliver it. The focus is then on identifying the necessary resources and actions to bridge the gap between the current status and the vision.
This analysis forms the basis for the development of an implementation plan that sets out the road map for the introduction of the new strategy.