Archive · 26 Sep 2026
Global Family Offices Need Cross-Border Tax Planning and Governance
Family offices help wealthy families manage their money.
Many families now invest in different countries, currencies and industries.
This can make taxes more complicated because family members and investments may be in different places.
Families may need to report bank accounts, trusts and other holdings to tax authorities.
The way an investment is owned can also change its tax and legal effects.
Families must think about whether to own assets directly or use companies or trusts.
They also need plans for passing wealth to the next generation.
Good records and clear family rules can help reduce mistakes and disagreements.
Younger family members are driving the growth and changing priorities of family offices.
Global investments can create tax and reporting obligations across multiple jurisdictions.
Tax residency, investment location and management control can affect where taxes are owed.
The choice among direct ownership, trusts and companies can affect tax, compliance and succession.
Family offices are increasingly developing governance and succession plans for cross-border wealth transfers.
- Who
- Family offices, globally diversified families and their younger members are the groups discussed.
- What
- The article explains why global family offices need cross-border tax planning, ownership structures, governance and succession plans.
- When
- The article does not specify a particular date or deadline.
- Where
- Across multiple countries and jurisdictions, including in the context of EY India’s advisory work.
- Why
- Global diversification can create overlapping tax, reporting, compliance, ownership and inheritance issues.
- Main issue
- Global investing creates tax and compliance considerations beyond identifying investment opportunities.
- Tax residency
- An individual’s residence can determine the income taxable and reportable in a jurisdiction.
- Multiple taxation
- Income may be taxable in more than one jurisdiction, with possible treaty or foreign-tax-credit relief.
- Reporting
- Overseas accounts, financial interests, trusts and other holdings may trigger reporting requirements.
- Ownership structures
- Direct ownership, trusts, holding companies and other vehicles can affect tax, compliance and governance.
- Succession
- Cross-border assets and beneficiaries make wealth transfers and dispute prevention more complex.
- Source
- The article was written by EY India’s Family Office Advisory Services leadership, with input from Garima Bangar.