Global mobility used to mean formal expat assignments. Today, though, it’s possible for employees at many companies to work from almost anywhere in the world. Remote work, hybrid work, digital nomads and distributed leadership teams have become a permanent part of the workforce landscape, and companies are recruiting talent across borders. As this flexibility increases, so do the tax, payroll, compliance and governance challenges that organizations must manage.
In the latest episode of Grant Thornton’s D.C. Dispatch podcast, tax advisors David Sites, Richard Tonge and Storme Sixeas explore how global mobility has evolved from a niche HR concern into a strategic business issue that demands collaboration between tax, legal, payroll and leadership. Drawing upon their experience advising multinational organizations, they explore why “legacy” mobility policies often fail to address the way people actually work today.
Central to the discussion is the update to the OECD Model Tax Convention commentary, aimed at modernizing an element of the tax system that was codified long before today’s borderless workforce existed. Sites, Tonge and Sixeas unpack recent OECD efforts to address how and when remote work arrangements create a taxable corporate presence in another country, break down what the move towards simplification means for organizations with global workforces and discuss where there is still uncertainty.
The conversation goes beyond policy developments to examine practical implications for business leaders. Our advisors stress the importance of modernizing workforce mobility policies, exploring how companies can balance compliance obligations with the need to attract and retain talent in an increasingly global labor market. In today’s world of digital nomads, travel for employee convenience, cross-border remote work and globally distributed teams, businesses must respond to new questions these situations raise about tax exposure, payroll obligations and regulatory compliance.
Listen to our latest D.C. Dispatch episode to find out more about how the tax landscape is changing and how your organization can better navigate the new complexities of global mobility.
PODCAST
Managing tax, other risks for a globally mobile workforce
Listen to the podcast
33:28 | Transcript (PDF - 3.08MB)
Podcast highlights
00:06 Introductions and topic outline
02:24 What global mobility can encompass today
05:08 Consequent payroll and taxation complications
06:59 The OECD’s recent global mobility commentary
12:13 Where does the U.S. stand?
14:59 Is the OECD commentary good for businesses?
17:35 Determining where employees actually work
24:27 Practical steps companies can take now
31:48 Wrap-up
Contacts:
National Managing Partner,
Washington National Tax Office and International Tax Solutions
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
David leads the firm's International Tax practice, which focuses on global tax planning, cross border merger and acquisition structuring, and working with global organizations in a variety of other international tax areas.
Washington DC, Washington DC
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Retail & Consumer Brands
Service Experience
- Tax Services
- International Tax
Partner, Global Mobility Services Practice Leader,
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Richard is a partner in our New York Human Capital Services practice and leads the Global Mobility Services practice in the United States.
Nyc, New York
Industries
- Technology
- Retail & Consumer Brands
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
Service Experience
- Tax Services
- International Tax
- Human Capital Services
- Global Mobility
Partner, Tax Legislative Affairs Leader
Washington National Tax Office
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Storme Sixeas serves as the Tax Legislative Affairs leader for Grant Thornton’s Washington National Tax Office.
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