Welcome to the ITR Awards, and World Tax research process. This page provides you with an overview of the methodology we use for the research process.
ITR World Tax is an annual rankings publication based on a review of firm and practitioner data, publicly available information, and market feedback. The ITR Tax Awards programmes recognises remarkable tax and transfer pricing achievements from the research period.
Participation is free, however submitting does not guarantee a tier ranking, an award shortlisting or win.
- Practitioner experience, sector coverage, and internal resources
- Complexity of work completed, innovative nature of the solutions provided to clients, and the impact of the work on the jurisdictional market
- Recent firm developments, including hires and departures
- Peer and client feedback
For a full more comprehensive review of the research methodology and awards summaries by region download the document(s) below.
Research timeline
Research Launched: 2 January 2026
Tax Research Webinar:
- "Completing your submission" - 19 November 2025
- "Your Questions Answered" - 21 January 2026
Submission Deadline: 13 March 2026
Practitioner Survey Deadline : 29 May 2026
Client Feedback Survey Deadline: 10 July 2026
Research Results Published*:
- Europe - October 2026
- Middle East - October 2026
- Americas - November 2026
- Asia-Pacific - November 2026
- Africa - April 2027
*Dates subject to change
If you need an extension to the submission deadline, please contact the Head of Research, John Harrison.
Tier 1
- International or very strong regional presence and reach
- Highly complex work
- High profile clients, such as MNEs, large enterprises, and blue-chip companies
- Predominately cross-border work
- Plays a role in regulatory negotiations and proactive influence on tax policy
- Regularly engages in thought leadership
- Strong bench of practitioners
- Supported by or affiliated with international or global networks
- Receives strong and consistent praise from referees and peers
Tier 2
- Strong regional presence and reach
- Complex work
- Large enterprise and upper mid-market clients
- Mix between national and cross-border work
- Capacity in regulatory or policy advising
- Engages in though leadership
- Strong bench of practitioners
- Ideally affiliated with international or global networks
- Receives positive referee and peer feedback
- Strong national presence and reach
- Moderate to highly complex matters
- Larger enterprises and mid-market clients
- National focused work, limited to no exposure to cross-border work
- Lacks evidence of involvement in shaping or influencing tax policy
- Engages in some thought leadership
- Strong bench of practitioners
- Not necessarily affiliated with international or global networks
- Receives positive referee and peer feedback
- National presence and reach
- Moderately complex matters
- Mid-market to lower mid-market clients
- National focused work, no exposure to cross-border work
- Lacks evidence of involvement in shaping or influencing tax policy
- May engage in some thought leadership
- Smaller bench of practitioners
- Not typically affiliated with international or global networks
- Receives limited positive referee and peer feedback
- Recognised national presence and reach
- Moderately complex matters
- Lower mid-market and SME clients
- National focused work, no exposure to cross-border work
- Lacks evidence of involvement in shaping or influencing tax policy
- Lacks evidence of engaging in thought leadership
- Smaller bench of practitioners
- Not typically affiliated with international or global networks
- Lacks positive referee and peer feedback
A firm ranked as other notable has participated in our research, but may lack sufficient data for a full assessment, may have no client or peer feedback, and/or may lack visibility in their market.
A firm ranked in an Active table has evidenced a national presence in a given specialism, but the jurisdiction has not evidenced enough data to us in order to classify these firms into ranked tiers quite yet.
Highly Regarded
- Long and illustrious career
- Senior position within firm
- Broad general and unique deep specialised knowledge
Very strong and positive reputation in the market
- Longer, stable career
- Leadership role within firm
- Broad general and some unique specialised knowledge
Positive reputation in the market
- No more than 15 years PQE
- Junior leadership role within firm
- General and developing unique specialised knowledge
- Strong peer feedback from within the firm
A Women in Tax Leader is a recognised female practitioner who has been ranked as either Highly Regarded, Notable Practitioner, or Rising Star. These practitioners are known for giving voice towards gender equality and are invited to participate in the Women in Tax annual survey.
A Promoted practitioner is an individual who has been included in their firm’s research submission or interview, who lacks sufficient data for a full assessment, may have no client or peer feedback, and/or may not be well known in the market.
- No more than 15 years PQE
- Junior leadership role within firm
- General and developing unique specialised knowledge
- Strong peer feedback from within the firm
General Corporate Tax
This table covers all tax advisory matters for which there is not a specific table in that jurisdiction. All matters that do not have a specific table in any given jurisdiction will be considered under this category.
Transfer Pricing
The rules and methods for pricing transactions within and between enterprises under common ownership or control.
Disputes not covered by Tax controversy, e.g. arbitration.
Matters specifically related to customs law.
Advising HNWI and families on structuring their taxes
Disputes and other contentious matters being dealt with through the courts or regulatory bodies.
Advising on matters related to taxes levied on goods and services rather than on income or profits.
Tax matters related specifically to real estate.
Tax matters relating to transactions, e.g. M&A.
