Irving Aw

Irving’s practice focuses on international tax, corporate income tax, value added tax and tax controversies in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region, and is informed by a strong belief that tax certainty is a mutually beneficial outcome for both taxpayers and tax administrations in a complex and fast-evolving tax landscape driven by domestic revenue needs and international tax changes. With 15 years of private and public sector tax experience—working for and with national tax administrations and international organizations and in the tax and private equity practices of major law firms—Irving brings to Taxise Asia unique comparative insights that are informed by a deep understanding of tax policies and administrative practices and balanced by commercial sensibilities.

Irving started his legal career at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) where, as Principal Legal Officer. More recently, as tax counsel at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC, Irving provided technical assistance to the Ministries of Finance and tax administrations of member states—including those in the Asia Pacific region—on drafting and reforming their income tax, value added tax and tax administration laws, as well as on the legal aspects of implementing various international tax standards, including the various BEPS Action Plans. 

As a private practitioner, Irving led well-ranked tax practices in advising clients from a wide range of sectors and industries including investment funds, financial institutions, technology, aviation, manufacturing and trade, trust and fiduciaries companies, and family offices on domestic and international tax issues across Asia Pacific. He focused especially on private investment funds, having represented numerous fund managers in the tax and legal structuring, formation, investment and divestment of private equity and hedge funds.