Introduction
Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.) (QNB Group) was established in 1964 and currently provides a growing range of services to Corporate & Institutional clients, as well as a select Personal Banking service to certain private clients, both on a conventional and a Sharia compliant basis in the UK through its London Branch (a UK permanent establishment) which commenced activities in 1976. This strategy applies from financial year beginning 1 January 2024 to all of the operations undertaken by the QNB Group in the UK*. The strategy is refreshed and published annually.
The QNB Group believes that good corporate governance complements its long-term business success. As a regulated business, as well as being subject to the UK Banking Code of Practice, corporate governance is essential to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
QNB’s vision to become one of the leading banks in Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia is founded on a strategy of sustainable growth. QNB is committed to creating and delivering long-term, sustainable value for our customers, employees, communities and shareholders. Our diverse banking services, capital strength, credit ratings, brand strength and a wide-reaching international footprint provide a firm foundation on which we are able to generate growth and prosperity. The Group is committed to ensuring it pays the right amount of tax and maintains compliance with all applicable tax laws.
This UK tax strategy communicates our approach to tax in the UK to all stakeholders and meets the Group’s obligations under paragraph 16(2) and 19(12) of Schedule 19 of the Finance Act 2016.
Tax Risks and Governance
The Board of Directors, based in Doha, have ultimate responsibility for the business and its operations. Day-to-day responsibilities are delegated as appropriate and the Head of Finance, based in London, has responsibility for ensuring the Group’s compliance with UK tax law and reports on a regular basis to the Group’s Financial Control Division and ultimately to the Group Chief Financial Officer.
The Group seeks to minimise tax risk as far as practically possible. Where uncertainties exist in the application of tax laws, the Group will seek third party advice in order to clarify the position and to reduce any associated tax risk.
QNB ensures all employees act with integrity and adhere to QNB values when managing tax affairs. The Group tax team ensure that their tax knowledge is up to date through appropriate training on an ongoing basis and by monitoring and keeping up to date with changes in tax law.
Compliance Risks
QNB seek to submit all tax returns and pay all taxes promptly and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, taking into account both the letter and spirit of the law. Accordingly, the Group’s Financial Control Division monitor the submission of corporate tax returns and obtain assurances of the submissions to ensure that the individual entities comply with the submission requirements.
QNB engages independent professional advisors to assist with ongoing UK tax compliance requirements.
QNB undertakes its intercompany transactions on an arm’s length basis in compliance with the relevant tax laws and OECD transfer pricing guidelines.
Legal Risks
QNB keep abreast of current and future tax obligations through regular review of correspondence with external advisors and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Transaction Risks
Tax risk management is undertaken in advance of any transactions which may have the potential for tax risk. The Group will engage professional advisors to ensure all tax risks are appropriately managed prior to executing any transaction. The Group are committed to approaching HMRC for an opinion prior to any transaction, in cases where there is doubt over the transaction compliance with the UK Banking Code of Practice or applicable tax law.
QNB have established and maintain robust policies and processes to ensure that taxes are calculated correctly, paid in a timely manner and risk of error is minimised. Tax policies and procedures are continually monitored and updated.
Tax Planning
The Group’s approach to tax planning is led by its commercial transactions. QNB does not engage in any artificial tax planning strategies.
The Group does not undertake transactions that are solely motivated by tax considerations.
Risk Appetite
QNB maintains a low tax risk appetite and places careful consideration on the tax laws within the jurisdictions in which it operates when making commercial decisions with a view to maximising value on a sustainable basis for its shareholders.
In the UK, the Group bears UK Corporation tax, VAT and employer taxes, and complies with all tax rules and regulations in the UK to safeguard our reputation as a responsible taxpayer. The Group claims tax reliefs that are properly available to QNB in the normal course of its business activities in the UK.
QNB’s risk profile and appetite are approved by the Board of Directors and Group Management Risk Committee and are cascaded down to every branch, division and segment as relevant, and through regular reporting of risk-based measures, the periodic review of business unit and branch business strategy and related review of credit risk acceptance criteria and operationalised through risk-adjusted performance measures, pricing of transactions and relevant training and guidance.
QNB do not advise clients on taxation matters, moreover where appropriate we advise or require a client to obtain independent professional tax advice. Furthermore, the Group does not promote tax avoidance or aggressive tax planning arrangement to any clients or other parties. The Group continually monitors any changes to tax law and is committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with any such changes.
Interaction with HMRC
The Group maintains a regular and open dialogue with HMRC, based on the disclosure of all relevant facts and circumstances, and provides any required information, to ensure that any potentially contentious matters are disclosed and resolved as promptly as possible.
QNB has adopted the six guiding principles proposed by HMRC covering risk assessment, proportional risk-based prevention procedures, top level commitment, due diligence, communication and monitoring and review.
*Entities covered: Qatar National Bank (Q.P.S.C.) – London Branch, QNB Capital LLC – London Branch, Ansbacher & Co UK Limited, Ansbacher UK Group Limited and Digital-Q-FS Limited.
Published: Feb 2024