Mr. Jack Bird, Partner

Ms. Akemi Kito, Partner

Ms. Ryann Thomas, Partner

Mr. Shintaro Yamaguchi, Partner

PwC Tax Japan

On December 8th 2016  the LDP Tax Committee released its annual Tax Reform Program (for the year 2017).

The details of the tax reform will be unveiled when the bills are presented to the Diet, these proposals are likely to be implemented in the Japanese taxation system.

Experts from PwC will give IBA Japan members their insight on how these changes may have an impact on the financial services industry in Japan. The presentation will cover various topics including:

· Corporate Tax reform and the expected effects on both foreign and Japanese financial institutions.

· BEPS developments: upcoming transfer pricing requirements

· Explain and provide insight on  local tax inspections, common pitfalls and challenges, areas of complexity etc.

· The impact of possible US tax reforms.

Jack Bird is a Partner with PwC Tax and has more than twenty years of international tax consulting experience including seven years with PwC US San Francisco, one year with PwC US Washington and more than fifteen years with PwC Tax Japan Tokyo. He worked for six years as a Chief Financial Officer in the hedge fund/private equity industry, primarily in the Japanese capital markets.  Jack has extensive experience in advising foreign based MNCs with operations in Japan as well as Japanese MNCs with foreign investments and operations.  He is qualified as an Attorney (California, District of Columbia), a Certified Public Accountant (Maryland) and a Chartered Financial Analyst. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Kansas State University.

Akemi Kito is a tax partner in the financial services group of PwC Tax Japan. She has over 10 years of experience as a tax partner in PwC tax, dedicated to serving Japanese and foreign financial institutions.  Her specialties include tax consultation on financial institutions and development of various financial products and funds, e.g., inbound and outbound investment funds, J-Reit, investment trust, cross-border securitization. Akemi is a member of the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and Japanese Licensed Tax Accountant Association (LTA).  She graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Law.

Ryann Thomas is a Partner with PwC Tax Japan’s International Tax Services division, specializing in transfer pricing. Ryann works exclusively in the transfer pricing area, assisting both inbound and outbound multinational corporations with transfer pricing audit defense, advance pricing agreements, documentation and economic analyses, and risk assessments. Prior to coming to Japan, Ryann worked as a Barrister and Solicitor in commercial and private litigation in New Zealand.  Ryann has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Auckland University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Massey University.

Shintaro Yamaguchi is a tax partner in PwC Tax Japan’s Tokyo office. Shin joined PwC Tax Japan in 2017, bringing with him extensive experience advising US and foreign multinational corporations on US tax issues relating to cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, financing structures and supply chain management. Shin frequently advises Japanese multinationals on US tax issues involving the structuring and financing of US business operations, acquisitions of US companies, and investments in US real estate. Shin is a graduate of Deep Springs College, Stanford University (B.A.), Yale Law School (J.D.）and NYU School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation). Shin served as a law clerk to a federal district court judge and is a member of the New York Bar.