20.9.2016

Tax Disputes – A Key Part of Corporate Financial Administration

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Disagreements that arise in the tax assessment and in tax audits often lead to lengthy appeal processes that sap time and resources from a company’s management and financial department. We advocate a pre-emptive approach to avoid problems through careful analysis of tax issues, diligent reporting and smooth communication with the tax authorities.

Should you nevertheless find yourself facing a tax dispute, whether domestic or international in nature, you will be able to rely on our renowned dispute resolution team to defend your interests. We will also provide you with the best possible assistance in handling tax complaint processes if your company is subject to a tax audit or if the Finnish Tax Administration intervenes in any arrangements at a later date.

Latest references

Careful planning is often the key to a successful arrangement, and it is possible to get definitive answers to questions that are open to interpretation through a ruling of the Finnish Tax Administration. The Tax Administration has recently focused on improving cooperation with its customers and has encouraged companies to actively apply for written preliminary rulings and even engage in preliminary discussions concerning more challenging arrangements. We have assisted Finnair and Municipality Finance , among others, in arrangements that involved significant income tax questions, which we resolved by applying for preliminary rulings. In the following, we describe a few of our recent case references involving preliminary rulings.
Case published 20.9.2016
We advised CapMan Real Estate in the acquisition and financing of a high-quality residential asset located in Katajanokka, Helsinki.  The asset was acquired from the Finnish Seamen’s Service Bureau (MEPA).  The property consisting of 38 modern rental apartments with a parking garage was completed in 2017. The building features high-quality construction, modern floorplans, and well-designed communal areas including a gym and rooftop sauna premises, and blends with the area’s historic maritime character. The residential asset is located in the prestigious Katajanokka seaside district of central Helsinki, known for its architectural heritage and proximity to the city centre. The property has a high ESG profile which will be further improved by CapMan Real Estate.
Case published 6.11.2025
We are acting as legal adviser to Stena Line on its acquisition of NLC Ferry Ab Oy (Wasaline), strengthening Stena Line’s position in the Baltic Sea and enabling it to take over operations of the ferry route between Umeå in Sweden and Vaasa in Finland. The acquisition further strengthens Stena Line’s position as one of the leaders in sustainability within the ferry industry and enhances the company’s access to alternative fuels whilst providing a strong intermodal transport link towards Gothenburg and Trelleborg, and onwards to the European continent. NLC Ferry, operating under the auxiliary name Wasaline, were owned by Kvarken Link, a company jointly owned 50/50 by the cities of Umeå and Vaasa. Wasaline is the world’s northernmost shipping company, operating daily passenger and freight services between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden, and is the first carbon-neutral ferry operator in the Baltic Sea with its hybrid vessel, Aurora Botnia, which runs on biogas and batteries. Stena Line is one of Europe’s leading ferry operators, with 20 routes across the continent. The company is family-owned, was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, with 6,550 employees and an annual turnover of 19.6 billion SEK. The transaction is conditional to the approval of the respective municipal councils of Umeå and Vaasa as well as customary closing conditions such as authority approvals. The completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the beginning of the year 2026. Castrén & Snellman is collaborating with CMS Wistrand, Stena Line’s advisor on Swedish law matters in connection with the transaction.
Case published 4.11.2025
We advised Prisma Properties in a real estate transaction in which the company acquired a retail property in Helsinki from Hartela.  The acquired property was built specifically for the discount retailer Jula. Completed in October 2025, the property is modern and very energy-efficient, and it is fully leased to Jula under a 10-year lease agreement. The property located in the Konala district, adjacent to the busy Ristikko shopping centre, spans 2,600 square metres. Prisma Properties is a fast-growing developer and long-term owner of modern properties for discount retail, grocery retail, and quick-service restaurants. The company operates across the Nordics and manages a property portfolio valued at approximately EUR 650 million, primarily consisting of newly developed properties with long lease agreements.
Case published 29.10.2025