Enabling International Success.

Whether you're growing internationally or navigating inward investment, our expert team works seamlessly with global partners to make cross-border business simpler, more strategic, and fully compliant.

Your trusted international partner

From navigating tax complexity and cross-border VAT to setting up payroll or audit compliance across jurisdictions, international trading and growth bring big opportunities, and big risks.

At Dains, we help businesses avoid costly mistakes by delivering coordinated, practical advice tailored to your global ambitions.

As a proud member of the AGN International association, we work closely with c.400 trusted firms in over 80 countries, enabling us to provide high-quality, joined-up support wherever business takes you.

We support businesses at every stage of their international journey, working closely with AGN partners in 80+ countries to ensure seamless, compliant growth.

1. International Corporate Tax Services (Direct & Indirect Taxes)

• Cross-border tax planning – avoid double taxation, structure your business efficiently, and manage transfer pricing with confidence

• International VAT & customs – register and report VAT across jurisdictions, navigate customs duties, and reclaim eligible costs

• Indirect tax & customs advisory – compliance and advisory support for businesses trading internationally

2. International audit services

• Group & component audit – coordinated audits across UK and international entities

• Audit compliance across standards – delivered in accordance with ISA600, IFRS, GAAP, or other relevant standards

• Assurance for global subsidiaries – consistent, reliable reporting across borders for multinational groups

3. International employment tax & global mobility services

Supporting employers with global mobility and remote working challenges

Global working is now the norm; whether that’s employers relocating staff to set up new operations or employees choosing to work remotely from abroad. While exciting, it introduces tax, social security, and compliance risks that employers can’t afford to ignore.

We help businesses manage these challenges by delivering joined-up advice covering tax, employee, payroll, and HR across multiple jurisdictions.

Our services include:

• Assessing personal tax implications for employees and directors, including payroll, benefits, and residency

• Managing corporate risks, such as permanent establishment exposure, central management and control, and intercompany charging

• Navigating social security compliance to ensure the right contributions are made in the right jurisdictions

• Designing reporting processes and policies that keep payroll, HR, finance, and tax teams aligned across borders

• Global payroll support - pay international employees correctly and compliantly, with help managing local filings, pensions, and deductions

4. Cross-Border transaction advisory services

• Corporate finance & transaction support – advisory on acquisitions, disposals, and cross-border investment

• Buy-side & sell-side due diligence – thorough reviews for inbound and outbound transactions

• R&D tax relief across borders – identify and claim eligible credits across multiple jurisdictions

• Cloud accounting for global operations – implement multi-currency, multi-entity systems to support international expansion

• UK and overseas entity setup - guidance on legal structure, local registration, and staying compliant in new territories

Our team works with businesses of all sizes to solve cross-border challenges, reduce costs, and unlock global opportunities. We regularly advise on:

• EU and North American investors acquiring UK companies

• Overseas groups setting up UK subsidiaries

• UK companies expanding to Europe, Asia, and North America

• Group tax and VAT planning across multiple countries

• Coordinated audits across UK and international entities

• R&D tax relief across multiple jurisdictions

• Employment tax and payroll for international teams

Below are examples of how our team have helped clients operate more efficiently and profitably across borders.

Customs warehousing & duty savings

• Online retailer – Customs warehouse authorisation: Eliminated UK VAT and import duty on re-exported goods, reducing prices and increasing margins.

• Manufacturer – IPR & ADD mitigation: Implemented IPR to avoid 35% ADD and 6% duty, saving £350k annually.

Northern Ireland- supply chain optimisation

• Food Distributor – Northern Ireland waiver: Adjusted logistics via NI to remove import duty and improve competitiveness.

• Manufacturer – NI transit & duty mitigation: Re-routed goods via NI to eliminate duty on ROI-bound exports.

Inward processing & manufacturing relief

• Commercial Vehicles – IPR: Avoided VAT and duty on chassis imported for re-exported vehicles.

• Industrial technology manufacturer – IPR for processing & export: Ensured VAT and duty suspension while maintaining compliance and efficiency.

Commodity classification & warehousing

• Distributor – commodity code review: Reclassified goods to reduce import duty exposure and compliance risk.

• Fulfilment Houses & 3PLs – warehousing structures: Helped 3PLs (Robert Guy, Dundeis, PGS) establish compliant, efficient warehousing structures.

Training, supply chain mapping & VAT advisory

• Manufacturing & engineering – supply chain mapping and training: Delivered workshops to improve profitability and reduce VAT risk.

• VAT liability & overseas registration: Advised businesses on liability of supply and overseas VAT registration requirements.

Employment tax & global mobility

• Tech Company – director relocation to the US: Managed UK and US tax compliance for a director establishing a US arm.

• UK Employer – hiring remote admin staff in South Africa: Guided employer on payroll, social security, and compliance.

• Professional services firm – global mobility framework: Developed policy for temporary overseas working, ensuring consistency and reducing risk.

Additional resources

Through AGN, you can access country-by-country guides on doing business internationally.