The second Global Withholding Tax Summit took place on 1 July 2026 in London, uniting more than 200 senior professionals from across financial services, tax advisory, and regulation for a full day of high-level discussion at a defining moment for the international withholding tax industry. The Summit is the premier conference devoted exclusively to withholding tax on cross-border investments.
This year’s Summit convened more than 60 speakers representing institutions including J.P. Morgan, State Street, BNY, HSBC, Citi, BlackRock, Clearstream, Euroclear, BNP Paribas, KPMG, and EY, alongside former officials of the European Commission and representatives of leading industry associations. The breadth and seniority of participation reflected the growing importance of withholding tax as a strategic priority across global financial services.
The programme opened with a keynote address by a representative of the European Commission, setting the tone for rigorous, agenda-driven debate. Panel discussions and breakout sessions gave attendees the opportunity to engage in depth with the regulatory and operational challenges that are front of mind across the industry.
The implementation of the EU FASTER Directive and Germany’s MiKaDiv framework drew particular attention, with live audience polling generating candid and, at times, surprising results. Further sessions addressed the taxation of digital assets, the role of AI and automation in tax operations, and the evolving landscape of FATCA and CRS compliance.
A dedicated “Tax Legend” conversation series offered delegates something less commonly found on conference agendas: unfiltered career reflections and hard-won professional insight from some of the industry’s most experienced practitioners.
Alexander Lerch, Co-Founder and CEO of RAQUEST: “The response we have received since the closing session has been overwhelming, and it confirms what we felt throughout the day: that the industry is ready for a forum like this – one that treats withholding tax not as a compliance footnote but as a discipline. That response is already shaping our thinking for next year.”
Following the strength of this year’s programme, RAQUEST has confirmed that planning for the third edition of the Global Withholding Tax Summit 2027 is already underway, with an expanded format under consideration to accommodate the growing breadth of topics and the continued growth in interest from the global tax community.
For further information: https://withholdingtaxsummit.com/
