Esther van Schalkwyk

Experience

Esther has more than 10 years’ experience in advising clients across disciplines, including corporate tax, personal tax, international tax and VAT. She also specialises in tax administration and leads BDO’s tax controversy and dispute resolution team.

Esther has advised local and offshore clients, including on:

• Distributions from local and foreign trusts 
• Tax residency and permanent establishments
• Controlled foreign companies
• Employee incentive programmes  
• Reportable arrangements

Other examples of her experience include resolving tax enquiries and disputes via:

• Voluntary disclosure applications

• Objections, appeals and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Settlement negotiations
• Requests for reduced assessments 
• Remittance of penalties
• Advance tax rulings

Esther joined BDO in 2015 after having completed her articles of clerkship at Norton Rose Fulbright.

---

Qualifications

• Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
• Bachelor of Accounting and Bachelor of Laws (BAccLLB)
• Master of Laws (LLM) (cum laude)
• Master of Commerce (MCom) in South African Taxation 
• Advanced Course in VAT (with distinction)

---

Other

• Esther is a Chartered Tax Adviser (SAIT) and is a member of SAIT’s Tax Administration and Dispute Management Work Group and SAICA’s Tax Administration Act (TAA) Sub-committee.

---