Tax Counsel, Technical Research & Business Support

About the Role

We're seeking an experienced Tax Counsel to serve as a technical resource across our tax function as we build robust tax infrastructure for our expanding operations. In this role, you'll advise the business on tax implications of strategic initiatives and transactions, assist with audit defense and dispute management efforts, and conduct technical research and documentation for complex tax issues across the tax team.

You'll navigate the evolving digital economy tax landscape, including digital services taxes (DSTs), Pillar 2, and emerging AI-specific tax regulations, while ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions. As a key contributor to our tax provision processes, you'll analyze uncertain tax positions and support our quarterly and annual reporting requirements. You'll also develop comprehensive tax policies and risk management frameworks to proactively identify and mitigate tax risks as we scale.

You'll be a go-to technical expert who can tackle sophisticated tax questions, prepare audit-quality memoranda, and translate technical concepts for business stakeholders. This role is critical to ensuring we have bulletproof tax positions, robust risk management processes, and comprehensive documentation as we face heightened scrutiny from auditors, tax authorities, and stakeholders in the rapidly evolving AI industry.

Responsibilities:

Technical Research & Documentation

• Research and document significant technical tax issues, including equity compensation, corporate structuring, international tax matters, and operational tax questions
• Prepare comprehensive tax technical memoranda meeting rigorous audit standards for audits
• Conduct in-depth research on complex federal and international tax issues using primary sources (Code, regulations, case law, legislative history)
• Draft technical tax memoranda supporting material tax positions and planning initiatives
• Maintain tax technical research library and documentation standards
• Stay current on tax law developments and assess impact on Anthropic's operations

Business Support & Contract Review

• Review and negotiate tax provisions in commercial contracts, cloud service agreements, and partnership arrangements
• Provide technical tax guidance on business transactions and new initiatives
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, and business teams on cross-functional matters
• Support M&A due diligence and integration from a tax perspective

Economy & International Tax Compliance

• Navigate complex digital services tax (DST) and OECD Pillar 2 requirements across multiple jurisdictions as Anthropic scales globally
• Monitor and analyze emerging digital economy tax legislation and its impact on AI/technology operations
• Develop compliance strategies for international digital tax obligations

Tax Compliance & Risk Assessment

• Partner with tax team members to assist with driving tax audit defense and dispute resolution efforts, including preparing audit defense files, coordinating responses to tax authority inquiries, and managing relationships during examinations and appeals processes
• Assist with quarterly and annual tax provision processes (FIN 48/ASC 740 compliance), analyze and document uncertain tax positions and related reserves, and support external auditor discussions regarding tax provision matters

Policy & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain comprehensive tax policies and procedures to ensure compliance and mitigate risk
• Conduct regular risk assessments of tax positions and business activities
• Implement proactive risk mitigation strategies across Anthropic's expanding operations
• Create governance frameworks for tax decision-making processes

External Advisor Management

• Partner with Big 4 advisors (EY, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte) and law firms on technical research projects
• Review and challenge external advisor work product for technical accuracy
• Coordinate technical research requests and manage advisor deliverables

Required Qualifications:

• JD or LLM in Taxation from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in good standing
• 8-12 years of tax experience with significant Big 4 and/or large law firm background
• Exceptional tax technical research and writing skills 
• Deep expertise in US federal income tax research methodology and primary source materials
• Experience preparing technical tax memoranda for audit or IRS defense purposes
• Proven ability to translate complex tax technical concepts into clear, well-documented analysis
• Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to technical excellence

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with tax technical software/databases (Bloomberg Tax, RIA Checkpoint, Westlaw)
• Experience with equity compensation tax matters (Section 83, 409A, 422, etc.)
• Knowledge of international tax matters (Subpart F, GILTI, transfer pricing, treaty analysis)
• JD, LLM in tax 
• Experience in technology or AI/software industry
• Prior in-house tax counsel experience
• Familiarity with public company tax operations and reporting requirements