A Practical Guide for Founders Taking Their Business International
As more businesses aim to scale across borders, expanding into new markets brings exciting opportunities—but also complex tax responsibilities. Whether you're moving operations from the UK to the UAE, launching a global e-commerce brand, or setting up regional subsidiaries, your tax planning must evolve with your growth.
Meghdad Tabrizian, an international tax advisor and founder of Tabrizian Tax Advisory, has guided dozens of founders and startups through the process of expanding their operations across jurisdictions. With a strong focus on the UK–UAE corridor, and a background that includes advisory roles at PwC, EY, and Grant Thornton, Tabrizian knows what businesses need to consider before they go global.
In this article, he shares a practical tax readiness checklist to help founders assess their expansion strategy with confidence.
✅ 1. Have You Defined Your Tax Residency?
Before you expand, it’s essential to understand where your business will be taxed. In both the UK and UAE, tax residency rules depend on the location of management, incorporation, and operations.
“A company can be legally registered in the UAE but still be tax-resident in the UK if its management decisions are made there,” explains Meghdad Tabrizian.
Checklist Tip:
Review the place of effective management of your business.
Ensure your directors, board meetings, and decision-making align with your intended tax jurisdiction.
✅ 2. Is Your Corporate Structure Optimized?
Many businesses default to their home structure when expanding—but international operations often require more nuanced planning. For example, a dual-entity setup with a UK holding company and a UAE trading entity may offer better tax efficiency.
Meghdad Tabrizian emphasizes that your structure should reflect both commercial and tax efficiency.
Checklist Tip:
Consider holding companies, subsidiaries, and operational branches strategically.
Ensure your setup aligns with double taxation treaties and local compliance requirements.
✅ 3. Have You Registered for VAT or Local Taxes?
In the UK, VAT is well-established; in the UAE, it was introduced in 2018 and remains a critical part of doing business. If your business supplies goods or services in the UAE or the UK, you may be required to register for VAT in one or both jurisdictions.
Meghdad Tabrizian, who holds an Advanced Diploma in UAE VAT Compliance, often sees startups delay VAT registration and pay the price later.
Checklist Tip:
Assess your VAT obligations based on expected turnover and services provided.
Prepare systems for accurate VAT tracking, invoicing, and quarterly returns.
✅ 4. Have You Reviewed Your Transfer Pricing Strategy?
If you’re operating in more than one country, transactions between your own entities need to follow arm’s-length pricing rules. This is known as transfer pricing, and both HMRC and the UAE Federal Tax Authority closely scrutinize it.
According to Meghdad Tabrizian, failure to document and justify intercompany transactions can lead to tax adjustments, audits, and penalties.
Checklist Tip:
Create and maintain transfer pricing documentation.
Price intercompany services and products in line with international standards.
✅ 5. Are You Personally Tax-Protected as a Founder?
Cross-border operations don’t just affect your company—they impact your personal tax situation, too. If you're drawing income in one country while residing in another, or relocating for business, your residency status could trigger unexpected tax obligations.
Meghdad Tabrizian regularly advises founders on personal tax optimization, including non-domiciled status in the UK and tax residency planning in the UAE.
Checklist Tip:
Clarify your personal tax residency based on the number of days and your ties to each country.
Structure salary, dividends, and bonuses tax-efficiently across jurisdictions.
Final Thoughts from Meghdad Tabrizian
Global expansion can be a growth accelerator—but only if it's built on a solid financial and tax foundation. With the right structure, documentation, and compliance strategy, your business can scale seamlessly while avoiding the regulatory pitfalls that often trap unprepared founders.
Meghdad Tabrizian, through his boutique consultancy Tabrizian Tax Advisory, works with entrepreneurs to make international tax straightforward, strategic, and aligned with long-term growth goals.
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