However, the data also indicates a sizable disconnect between the business' awareness of tax and its willingness to include the tax department in the cloud planning process. Indeed, in a recent survey of tax professionals in the US¹, less than half of all companies include their tax department in up-front discussions on cloud initiatives.
According to analysis by Steven Fortier, a Principal with KPMG in the US, getting strategic tax advice should be a critical step in the cloud planning process. He adds that there are significant tax implications in how cloud service agreements are contracted and structured that must be considered and managed.