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The off-season doesn't look like much from the outside.
There are no crowds, no scoreboard and few visible results. Yet for a championship team, it can be one of the most important periods of the year.
Away from the noise of game day, coaches review the tape, players work on weaknesses, emerging talent is developed and the roster is assessed. Decisions are made about what needs to change, what needs to stay and where the team needs to be stronger when the next season begins.
Businesses have their own version of the off-season, even if it is rarely labelled as such. The organisations that use quieter periods well can be better prepared when activity accelerates again. And much like a team deciding whether to make a pivotal trade, a major business transaction, an acquisition, disposal or merger, can reshape an organisation's trajectory for years to come.
The difference is that, in business, there is rarely a final buzzer.
Decisions made today can continue to affect cash flow, growth, risk and flexibility well into the future.
Tax planning is one area where preparation can make a substantial difference.
Effective tax advice is about more than meeting compliance obligations. Like a good coach looking beyond the next game, effective tax planning considers the bigger picture: where the business is heading, what decisions are coming up and how the different pieces fit together.
It is easy to focus on the next tax return or the immediate issue in front of you. But the real value of tax planning often comes from looking further down the court.
What are the tax implications of a planned acquisition?
Is the current structure still fit for purpose, or has the business outgrown it?
Are there tax exposures within a target business that have not been fully examined?
And if the organisation itself is likely to come under scrutiny from a prospective buyer, would it withstand the same level of due diligence?
These are not questions that lend themselves to a last-second shot.
They require time to review the game tape, understand the position and consider the options before the clock starts running.
Is your business ready for its next big move?
Whether you're planning an acquisition, expanding into new markets or reviewing your business structure, proactive tax planning can help you identify risks, manage complexity and make more informed decisions.
That might mean assessing alternative transaction structures, undertaking detailed due diligence, stress-testing assumptions or identifying potential exposures before they become more difficult, or costly to address.
The objective is not simply to find a tax answer. It is to understand how that answer fits with the wider commercial strategy.
That broader view matters particularly when a business is looking to grow. The right tax structure can support cash flow and investment decisions, while a structure that no longer reflects the way a business operates can create unnecessary complexity or risk.
It is much like building a basketball roster.
A team cannot simply recruit the most talented player available and assume the pieces will fit. The decision needs to make sense within the wider game plan. Similarly, tax decisions are rarely made in isolation. They need to work alongside financing, investment, ownership, operations and longer-term growth objectives.
For cross-border transactions, the court gets even bigger.
Tax risks rarely stop at one jurisdiction, and a structure that works efficiently in one country can create unintended consequences in another. Understanding how different tax systems interact can be critical when a business is expanding internationally or entering into a transaction across borders.
The same applies to the detail of the deal. Tax warranties, indemnities and other protections may not be the most visible parts of a transaction, but they can be important pieces of the defensive strategy. And the way a deal is financed deserves careful consideration too. The initial mix of debt and equity can influence cash flow, financial flexibility and tax outcomes long after the transaction has closed.
Then there is the opposition.
The rules do not stand still. A defensive strategy that worked last season will eventually be studied, adapted to and countered. Tax legislation evolves in much the same way. A position that delivered an effective outcome previously may no longer do so under a new regulatory framework.
That makes tax planning less about predicting the future and more about being prepared for it.
Championship teams do not spend the off-season trying to predict exactly how every possession will unfold.
They prepare for different scenarios. They build depth into the roster, develop different plays and make sure players understand how to respond when the game does not go according to plan.
Businesses can take a similar approach. Reviewing structures, considering potential changes and understanding where risks may emerge can give decision-makers greater confidence when circumstances change.
And, just as no single player sees the entire game from one position, no single tax issue should necessarily be considered in isolation. Looking across the whole business can reveal opportunities, connections and risks that may not be apparent when attention is focused only on the next return or transaction.
This is where the off-season matters.
Championship teams do not simply use the break to recover from the previous campaign.
They analyse, adapt and improve before the pressure returns and the opportunity to adjust narrows. They know that preparation may not make the highlight reel, but it can determine how well the team performs when the game is on the line.
For businesses, the next big moment may be a transaction, an expansion, a change in ownership or simply a new set of tax rules. By then, the shot clock may already be running.
The organisations best equipped to handle that pressure are often those that have used the quieter moments well: reviewing the tape, looking at the whole court and making deliberate adjustments before they are needed.
The organisations best equipped to handle that pressure are often those that have used the quieter moments well: reviewing the tape, looking at the whole court and making deliberate adjustments before they are needed.
Because in basketball, as in business, the best time to think about the next move is usually before you have the ball in your hands.
Have a question?
Plan your next move with confidence
Good preparation can make all the difference.
Whether you're navigating a transaction, reviewing your tax structure or preparing for future growth, RSM's tax advisers can help you understand your options and plan ahead.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your business's tax planning needs.
Good preparation can make all the difference.
Whether you're navigating a transaction, reviewing your tax structure or preparing for future growth, RSM's tax advisers can help you understand your options and plan ahead.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your business's tax planning needs.
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