Tax
Our Tax Practice is the broadest full spectrum tax law advisory team in Singapore, encompassing tax litigation, corporate tax advisory, enterprise tax risk management, and private wealth planning, presenting clients with a comprehensive and seamless service.
Clients rely on us in complex cases where sophisticated tax-legal issues require fine judgment calls. We regularly take on novel matters and force the rethink of established practices and boundaries of the Revenue authorities.
A hallmark of our practice is quality processes. Every case we handle follows an established process of diagnosing the problem, assembling the best minds, landscaping the entire case, researching, and putting together the solution.
Practice Areas
Tax Litigation
This is the area of expertise for which we are best known. We represent clients before all the tax tribunals as well as the Supreme Court. Our formal legal opinions are frequently sought by clients and their solicitors. We are comfortable advising in all areas of taxation including goods and services tax, property tax and stamp duties. We are particularly well respected in corporate tax and property tax litigation. In the property tax arena, we have detailed knowledge of the specialised and intricate industrial sector.
Enterprise Tax Risk Management
Our expertise in this area is a testament to our talented multidisciplinary team. We have consulted on enterprise-based risk assessment assignments to minimise future tax exposure for our clients. We have developed established processes for assessing specific tax risks in the global trading context. For example, we consulted for several major oil and trading companies to establish a set of business processes and trading rules to manage their international “Permanent Establishment” exposure. We pride ourselves on our strong tax audit and investigation services and we are regularly sought out for major tax criminal investigation matters.
Corporate Tax Advisory
We offer a full range of corporate tax advisory services. In addition to advising on transactions, we manage on-going corporate tax compliance and legal issues. In collaboration with our corporate finance lawyers, we ensure tax compliance and optimisation for our clients.
Accolades
Chambers Asia-Pacific
Tax 2024 – Band 1; Leading firm for 15 consecutive years
Band 1 Individuals
Ong Ken Loon
Ong Sim Ho
Noted by Chambers as the “go-to group for tax disputes”
"They have Singapore laws and regulations at their fingertips. Without having to spend too much time checking, the team is able to answer our issues and concerns almost immediately."
"The firm is very professional and responses are quick and detailed. Standards are always presented to back up the advice."
"Drew & Napier's team have world-class technical skills and the ability to understand the many aspects of the problem. They provide actionable advice which is nimble, with clear fit to client resources and factual scenario."
"They are extremely commercial, which is a rare skill."
"They are very professional in their delivery of advice."
“Very experienced team. The lawyers are also accountants, so they are familiar with the financial workings. They are knowledgeable and you don't have to explain much.”
“They are professional and highly responsive, even on small matters.”
The team is praised for their quick turnaround time. "They are prompt and responsive." A client said: "When auditors are questioning and matters are urgent, we can always call them for detailed legal advice."
Interviewees also noted that the team is "well connected and successful in the marketplace." Another said: "They are spot-on in providing us with relevant tax advice."
"They are a very strong dispute resolution firm, not just in tax disputes. They continue to do well in this space."
Clients also described Ken Loon as "technically stong" and praised her ability to "empathise with clients' needs."
She is sought after for her depth of experience in handling tax disputes initiated by the tax authorities. One client revealed: "She is a lawyer I would go to for technical matters."
Other clients noted that "Ken Loon shines especially in having the nous to pull in subject matter and local law legal experts early, seeing around corners for us, to create holistic, battle-tested and well-precedented advice in solving complex problems. She clearly loves her work and it shows through in the quality and speed of delivery" and that "she provides calm yet technically strong and pragmatic counsel while under challenging deadlines and pressures."
Ong Sim Ho wins a lot of praise for his flexible approach and depth of knowledge in the tax area, with one client emphasising: “The most important thing is his technical understanding and how creative he is. No one in Singapore can cut through the issues like him. He is very, very strong.”
He is praised for coming up with “very constructive ideas.” Sources also note that “his wealth of knowledge on precedents allows him to give an immediate response to any kind of question.”
Other clients commended that "Sim Ho is an excellent tax lawyer" who is "knowledgeable and business-oriented" and that his advice is "always spot on and his responses are very prompt."
Asia Pacific Legal 500
Tax 2024 – Tier 1; Leading firm for 18 consecutive years
Hall of Fame
Ong Ken Loon for 5 consecutive years, previously Leading Individual for 8 consecutive years
Leading Individual
Ong Sim Ho for 15 years
Recommended lawyer
Yang Shi Yong for 9 consecutive years
“Technically strong with great knowledge of clients’ businesses.”
"Very experienced tax team"
The team is "very responsive, quick on the uptake and provides in-depth and relevant legal advice that works in real life."
"Its lawyers have sharp business acumen and provide commercially practical advice."
Practice head Ong Ken Loon has impressed clients with her “strong technical skills.” She is a “go-to person for any tax dispute work” and particularly rated for her “professionalism and knowledge”.
Ken Loon is “very experienced and knows the people working in IRAS very well including their backgrounds, the experience, how they work and how they are likely to treat your case.”
“She is able to read the government’s approach to tax issues and can also be a useful contact if you have a difficult issue with the government. Her advice is always practical in approach and always sound. In terms of legal research, she is an extremely conscientious lawyer who always does her homework and her numbers and she is always prepared and able to clearly explain the tax impact of the various options so that it is easy to determine which to go for.”
“In terms of negotiations and communications, you cannot get better than Ken Loon as she always knows how to put the arguments across and she is extremely clear and concise.”
“Ong Sim Ho is technically strong with practical solutions.”
“Ong Sim Ho is someone we are always relying on. He usually takes a novel approach in crafting his solutions and has not failed us in a single matter brought to him in more than 15 years.”
Ong Sim Ho is described as a “tax lynchpin” at the Singapore tax bar, and he is recommended for his “critical thinking”, “analytic skills” and "truly superior knowledge".
International Tax Review World Tax
Tax 2023 – Leading firm for 14 consecutive years
Tax Controversy Leaders 2023
Ong Ken Loon for 10 consecutive years
Ong Sim Ho for 11 years
Women in Tax Leaders 2023
Ong Ken Loon for 8 consecutive years
“Very impressive clearly thought through advice on how to manage a dispute with IRAS.”
“Ong Ken Loon is well-respected specialist in tax dispute resolution and regularly represents clients in tax tribunals and courts.”
“Ong Sim Ho has demonstrated very good knowledge and in-depth understanding of the Singapore income tax regulations and has provided very concise and comprehensive analysis of our tax issue.”
Best Lawyers International: Singapore
Tax Law 2024 — Ong Sim Ho and Ong Ken Loon are Endorsed individuals
Trust and Estates 2024 — Ong Sim Ho and Ong Ken Loon are Endorsed individuals
asialaw Profiles
Tax 2023/2024 – Outstanding for 3 consecutive years, previously Highly Recommended for 3 consecutive years
"Deep experience."
“Experienced lawyers who know the ITBR requirement and advise clients on the appeal strategy and provide practical advice on the approach to the appeal. Legal submissions are well prepared and clear and concise. They value the relationship with clients.”
A client notes the team “made me feel very comfortable from the onset despite being in a very challenging environment”. Another client also commented that the team offers “very practical tax advice”.
asialaw Leading Lawyers
Tax 2023/2024
Ong Sim Ho – Elite Practitioner for 5 consecutive years
Ong Ken Loon – Distinguished Practitioner for 5 consecutive years
“Excellent, Ong Sim Ho is commercially attuned and provides interesting perspectives to tax issues.”
Clients praised Ong Ken Loon for being “very knowledgeable", and mentioned that she has "calm hands”.
Who’s Who Legal
National Leader
Southeast Asia: Corporate Tax 2024
Ong Sim Ho – Recommended individual for 4 consecutive years
Ong Ken Loon – Recommended individual for 3 consecutive years
Global Leader
Corporate Tax: Controversy 2022 – Ong Sim Ho is a Leading individual for 2 consecutive years
Corporate Tax: Advisory 2022 – Ong Ken Loon is a Leading individual for 2 consecutive years
Asia Legal Awards
Tax Lawyer of the Year 2018 – Ong Ken Loon
The Tax Directors Handbook
Ong Sim Ho is Leading lawyer in 2015 for 2 consecutive years
Asian-MENA Counsel’s In-House Community
Taxation Firm of the Year 2013
Practical Law Company Which Lawyer? Yearbook
Tax 2012 – Leading practice for 5 consecutive years
Endorsed Individuals
Ong Ken Loon
Ong Sim Ho
Asian Legal Business
Leading Tax Law Firm Singapore 2011 – 2 consecutive years
Asia Tax Awards
Singapore Case of the Year 2010
Singapore Tax Litigation Firm of the Year 2009
World Finance
Best Tax Team Singapore 2010
Asian-Counsel Firm of the Year
Tax Firm of the Year 2009 for 3 consecutive years
Singapore Tax Controversy Firm of the Year 2009