International Shadow Payroll and Global Compensation Management

The challenge

When multinational companies send employees on international assignments, the local payroll team or an external payroll provider must ensure that the social security and tax position of the assignees is compliant with both home and host country rules. This requires an understanding of the assignment compensation structure , and ensuring that the company‘s mobility and tax policies are expressed clearly so that  there is payroll compliance .

Payroll is often seen as purely administrative and not directly linked to a company’s Global Mobility programme. However, it is an integral part of a successful Global Mobility programme, preventing a company and its employees from exposure to the risk of legal.

Key scenarios we can assist on:

• Advice on the tax and social security policy and processes for mobile employees 
• Negotiations with authorities for optimisation of shadow payroll processes 
• Need for assistance with operating your shadow payroll in Switzerland or abroad 
• Health checks on withholding and reporting processes in advance of audits 
• Establishing global compensation management processes 

Client case study

Client/Industry: A global engineering company with more than 75,000 employees  worldwide. 

Challenge: To ensure that international assignees and business travellers are subjected to the correct tax and social security schemes during their international posting to Switzerland, in the most administratively efficient way for the company whilst ensuring full  compliance. 

Solution: Understand the client’s specific needs and engage with the relevant Swiss  tax authorities, to ensure administrative transparency and efficiency as well as optimizing their tax position. 

Outcome/impact: An annual withholding and reporting process, with all key compensation and calendar data available for Swiss reporting purposes, that minimizes the administrative impact for the client and facilitates transparent cost overview for the project management and finance group.

Contact

Richard Goodwin
Partner
Global Employer Services
Ph: +41 58 279 8703

Marko Dujanovic
Manager
Global Employer Services
Ph: +41 58 279 8095