M&A Tax Advisory Services

Overview

Tax is a material factor in every transaction, whether a merger, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization, IPO, or formation. For over a decade, HCVT’s M&A tax team has developed strategies and delivered solutions to help manage risks and deliver value. Using an integrated team of subject matter professionals in federal, state & local, international, and trusts, our M&A tax team solves complex problems and helps increase the client’s bottom line. Once the deal is complete, we help properly report transactions with timely elections and disclosures to help achieve the bargained results. Importantly, we partner with your financial advisors and attorneys to incorporate tax efficiency in documenting the transaction structure and tax exposures, planning for estimated taxes, structuring future investments, estate planning, and donating to charitable organizations.

Services for Business Owners/Founders:

Quality of Tax Analysis – Seller focused

Identify and help implement an efficient transaction structure that helps maximize capital gains, allows the buyer a step-up in basis, and permits sellers to roll over equity on a pre-tax basis
Negotiate purchase price allocation for tax efficiency
Calculate proper tax gross-up and after-tax cash flow
Planning for transaction cost and employee incentive payments
Net operating loss analysis
Monetize built-in loss investments
Identify and help resolve income tax and non-income tax exposures
Analyze the validity of S corporation status and help resolve issues such as failure to obtain spousal consent and failure to make proportionate distributions to shareholders
Evaluate tax terms and conditions of the transaction agreement to help ensure that sellers achieve negotiated and optimal results

State Tax Planning

Residency planning
Planning for state apportionment and nonresident withholding
Identify and help resolve sales and use tax exposures by applying for voluntary disclosure

Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) and Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund Investment Planning

Maximize QSBS tax exclusion and verify qualification for QSBS treatment
Evaluate the qualification and benefits of investing in a Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund for potential tax elimination and deferral

Trust Planning

Structure and plan for the use of your lifetime exclusion
Implement trust structures to help transfer wealth outside your taxable estate

Planning for Charitable Donations

Planning for transfers to charity using Donor Advised Funds and Charitable Remainder Trusts

Services for Private Equity and Strategic Acquirers:

Quality of Tax Analysis – Buyer focused

Evaluate transaction structures for tax efficiency including C corporation versus flow-through status taking into account the profile of investors (taxable, tax-exempt, foreign)
Allocate purchase price to help buyer gain tax leverage
Calculate appropriate tax gross-up to make seller whole on additional taxes associated with a step-up in basis transaction, including value gained by the buyer in a step-up transaction
Analyze and quantify tax exposures including federal, state, local, sales, use, international, property, and payroll tax
Review transaction agreement to confirm optimal language is included to protect the buyer from tax exposures and covenants