1 SCOPE
This strategy applies to the BLANCO UK Ltd. (in the following “BLANCO UK”) as part of the BLANCO group of companies which is part of the Blanc & Fischer Group headed by Blanc & Fischer Familienholding GmbH in accordance with paragraph 17(4) of Schedule 19 to the Finance Act 2016. A list of the entities to which it applies is set out below. In this strategy, references to ‘BLANCO’, ‘the firm’ or ‘the group’ are to all entities of the BLANCO group. This tax strategy was published on 12/06/2019 and Blanc & Fischer regards this publication as complying with its duty under paragraph 16(2) Schedule 19 FA 2016 in its financial year ended 31/12/2023.
This strategy applies as of 2019 until it is superseded. References to ‘UK Taxation’ are to the taxes and duties set out in paragraph 15(1) of the Schedule which include Income Tax, Corporation Tax, PAYE, NIC, VAT, Insurance Premium Tax, and Stamp Duty Land Tax. References to ‘tax’, ‘taxes’ or ‘taxation’ are to UK taxation and to all corresponding worldwide taxes and similar duties in respect of which BLANCO UK has legal responsibilities.
2 AIM
BLANCO UK is committed to full compliance with all statutory obligations and full disclosure to relevant tax authorities. BLANCO UK’s tax affairs are managed in a way which takes into account the group’s wider corporate reputation in line with E.G.O. Blanc und Fischer & Co. GmbH’s overall high standards of governance.
3 GOVERNANCE IN RELATION TO UK TAXATION
• Ultimate responsibility for BLANCO UK’s tax strategy and compliance rests with the Managing Directors of BLANCO UK; BLANCO UK’s tax strategy is derived from the Blanc and Fischer tax strategy.
• The Managing Director’s requirement to monitor the integrity of BLANCO UK’s financial reporting system, internal controls and risk management framework, expressly includes those elements relating to taxation;
• Day-to-day management of BLANCO UK’s tax affairs is delegated to the Head of Finance, who reports to the Finance Director;
• BLANCO UK closely cooperates with external tax consultants who are staffed with appropriately qualified individuals;
• The Managing Director ensures that BLANCO UK’s tax strategy is one of the factors considered in all investments and significant business decisions taken;
• The Managing Director reports to the subgroup management extraordinary tax affairs and risks during the year.
4 RISK MANAGEMENT
• BLANCO UK operates a system of tax risk assessment and controls as a component of the overall internal control framework applicable to the subgroup reporting system;
• BLANCO UK seeks to reduce the level of tax risk arising from its operations as far as is reasonably practicable by ensuring that reasonable care is applied in relation to all processes which could materially affect its compliance with its tax obligations;
• Processes relating to different taxes are allocated to appropriate process owners, who carry out a review of activities and processes to identify key risks and mitigating controls in place. These key risks are monitored for business and legislative changes which may impact them and changes to processes or controls are made when required;
• Appropriate training is carried out for staff outside the tax team who manage, or process matters which have tax implications;
• Advice is sought from external advisers where appropriate.
5 ATTITUDE TOWARDS TAX PLANNING AND LEVEL OF RISK
BLANCO UK manages risks to ensure compliance with legal requirements in a manner which ensures payment of the right amount of tax.
When entering into commercial transactions, BLANCO UK only takes advantage of available tax incentives, reliefs and exemptions in line with, and in the spirit of, tax legislation. BLANCO UK does not undertake tax planning unrelated to such commercial transactions.
The level of risk which BLANCO UK accepts in relation to UK taxation is consistent with its overall objective of achieving certainty in its tax affairs. At all times BLANCO UK seeks to comply fully with its regulatory and other obligations and to act in a way which upholds its reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. In relation to any specific issue or transaction, the Managing Director is ultimately responsible for identifying the risks, including tax risks, which need to be addressed and for determining what actions should be taken to manage those risks, having regard to the materiality of the amounts and obligations in question.
6 RELATIONSHIP WITH HMRC
BLANCO UK seeks to have a transparent and constructive relationship with HMRC through meetings as required and communication in respect of developments in BLANCO UK’s business, current, future and retrospective tax risks, and interpretation of the law in relation to all relevant taxes.
BLANCO UK ensures that HMRC is kept aware of significant transactions and changes in the business and seeks to discuss any tax issues arising at an early stage. When submitting tax computations and returns to HMRC, BLANCO UK discloses all relevant facts and identifies any transactions or issues where it considers that there is potential for the tax treatment to be uncertain.
Any inadvertent errors in submissions made to HMRC are fully disclosed as soon as reasonably practicable after they are identified.
7 LIST OF ENTITIES COVERED BY THIS TAX STRATEGY
• BLANCO UK LIMITED
• E.G.O. UNITED KINGDOM LIMITED
• B.PRO SOLUTIONS UK LTD.