More than the sum of the parts (TT Sept02 p31-32)

At the simplest level, tax involves cash going out of a business and, as the person with a firm hold of the business’s purse, this makes tax important to the treasurer. Unfortunately, tax has a reputation of being incomprehensible – the preserve of a few with impaired communication skills.Yet the treasurer does not need to be a tax technical wizard to contribute to the management of tax-related cashflows and risks. This article aims to arm the treasurer with a practical approach to tax management and with an understanding of ‘the right questions to ask’ of his tax adviser.