Tailored Research Services
IBFD tailored research services deliver precise, reliable and fully custom-built tax research and data solutions for governments, tax authorities, international organisations, private enterprises, banks and financial institutions. As the home of international taxation, we deliver independent, high‑quality insights and structured tax data you can trust for your most critical decisions.
What are IBFD tailored research services?
IBFD tailored research services are bespoke tax research and data projects carried out by IBFD's international tax experts
Some tax questions have no off-the-shelf answer. IBFD’s tailored tax research services help organisations address complex national and cross-border tax questions that standard products, publications or databases may not fully cover. You receive independent, research-based insight — not commercial tax advice — to support informed decision making.
Who We Support
Are you a government, ministry, international organisation, private enterprise, bank or financial institution facing complex tax or data challenges?
IBFD provides bespoke support grounded in unmatched global expertise.
- Global expert network – Access tax professionals and country specialists in 100+ jurisdictions.
- Trusted independence – A unique research partner for public authorities and international institutions, regularly acting as amicus curiae (“friend of the court”).
- Unmatched research resources – The world’s largest repository of tax literature, journals, books and historical archives.
- Competitive fees – High-quality research at rates that compare favourably across the market.
Research Services and Data Solutions Tailored to Your Needs
IBFD is a trusted partner for research on tax policy, legislation, administrative practice, treaty interpretation, historical rates, case law and more. Each project is scoped around your specific question, jurisdictions and required level of detail.
We do not provide tax advice—instead, we deliver independent, research‑based insights that empower informed national and international tax decision making.
Examples of Our Bespoke Research Solutions
Expert Tax Opinions
Independent, research-based technical analyses of international tax issues.
Example: Amicus curiae opinion on Articles 7 and 12 under Double Tax Treaties between Georgia, China and Turkey.
Comparative Surveys
Multi-jurisdictional research offering the insights needed for well‑grounded decision making.
- Analysis of measures supporting energy transition, investment attraction and retention, and high-skilled workforce mobility.
- Multi-country assessment of treaty provisions (business profits vs. immovable property) in hypothetical restructurings.
- Country-specific reports on the tax treatment of selected benefits in kind at employee level.
Country-Specific Research
In-depth analysis of domestic tax policies, legislation and treaty interpretation.
- Tax treatment of immovable property owned by a Dutch resident in the UAE under the relevant tax treaty.
- Examination of “government administration” and “government agencies” within the OECD Model GloBE rules and commentaries.
2023 B.A.T. Uganda Report
We are proud to share this report, published with the consent of the Ugandan tax authorities.
Reliable Tax Data Solutions
Tax data drives modern business operations. Systems across finance, compliance and HR rely on accurate, continuously updated information, even when managed by non-tax specialists.
IBFD provides tailored tax data solutions designed around your specific business needs. Whether you require recurring datasets, custom tax data extracts or jurisdiction-specific analyses, we deliver reliable tax information in the format that best supports your processes and systems.
For organisations seeking automated access to IBFD content, we also offer API integrations, enabling internal systems to retrieve up-to-date tax information directly from IBFD resources and incorporate it into existing workflows.
Examples of Our Tailored Data Solutions
Monthly datasets of dividend and/or interest withholding tax rates (current and historical) across key source jurisdictions, enriched with jurisdiction‑specific insights for investor countries.
Custom overviews of bilateral payment flows and applicable treaty rates.
Meet our team
Prof. Dr. Victor van Kommer
Angelika Xygka
Ready to Strengthen Your Tax Research or Data Capabilities?
Connect with our experts to discuss your research question, data need or custom project.
How a Tailored Research Project Works
Every project starts with scoping. You share your research question, the jurisdictions involved and your required deliverable. IBFD then defines the approach, output and project scope before work begins, so expectations are clear from the outset.
Deliverables are written to be practical and usable: structured, sourced and ready to inform a decision, reform, discussion or negotiation. If your need evolves, the scope can be adjusted by agreement.
FAQs
What are tailored research services?
Tailored research services are bespoke tax research projects that answer specific domestic or cross-border tax questions. IBFD delivers them through experts in over 100 countries, mainly for governments, tax authorities, international organisations and financial institutions. The output is independent, sourced analysis for decisions, reform or negotiation, not commercial tax advice.
Who can use IBFD tailored research services?
All interested parties who are interested in independent high quality answers to their tax questions and whose systems depend on reliable tax data can use IBFD’s tailored research services, IBFD has a proven record of delivering tailored research services to governments, ministries, tax administrations, international organisations and financial institutions. Each engagement is scoped to the client's specific need.
How is IBFD different from a tax advisory firm?
IBFD is an independent, non-profit foundation and does not provide commercial tax advice. It delivers objective, research-based analysis and data, free of conflicts of interest. This independence is why governments and international organisations trust IBFD for sensitive tax research and comparative studies.
What does a tailored research project cost and how long does it take?
Cost and timeline depend on scope, jurisdictions and depth. IBFD scopes each project up front and agrees a deliverable, price and realistic schedule before work begins. Contact IBFD to discuss your specific need.
What is the difference between tailored research services and the Tax Research Platform?
The Tax Research Platform is a subscription database of worldwide tax information you research yourself. Tailored research services are bespoke projects where IBFD's experts research a specific question for you. Many clients use both: the platform for daily research and custom services for complex one-off questions.