Piia Ahonen
Piia Ahonen
Piia Ahonen joined Hannes Snellman in January 2019. She heads our VAT and other indirect tax matters and client accounts in the fields of tax consultancy and tax controversy.
Piia has over 16 years of experience in Finnish and international indirect taxation. Previously, Piia worked for EY, and she has advised both Finnish and international clients in the automotive, real estate, and energy sectors, as well as the manufacturing and retail sectors. She also has experience in assisting non-profit organisations in VAT-related matters.
Piia is a well-known and popular lecturer in VAT topics relating to global trade, real estate, and general day-to-day VAT issues. In addition, she has published several articles on value added taxation.
From 2013 to 2019, Piia was a member of the Committee of Law and Tax of the Tampere Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
References
Counsel to a taxpayer in the Supreme Administrative Court’s Yearbook case outlining VAT treatment of coworking services.

Piia Ahonen

Heikki Vesikansa
Parties
A fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH
Transaction
Acquisition of Hermia 5 and Hermia 6 office properties located in the Hermia Science Park in Tampere with a lettable area of approximately 30,000 square metres
Deal value
Value not public
Hannes role
Counsel to a fund managed by Quadoro Investment GmbH
Hannes team
Tapio Teräkivi, Heikki Vesikansa, Markus Bremer, Marjaana Martikainen, Jenni Parviainen, Piia Ahonen, Meeri Karlsson, Ella Rinne, Panu Vikberg, Linda Launonen, and Viivi Rousku.

Tapio Teräkivi

Heikki Vesikansa

Markus Bremer

Marjaana Martikainen

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen

Ella Rinne

Panu Vikberg

Linda Launonen

Viivi Rousku
Parties
City of Espoo, Kumppanuuskoulut Oy, YIT Oyj, Meridiam Investments II
Transaction
The City of Espoo signed a service agreement with Kumppanuuskoulut Oy on the implementation of five schools and three daycare centres
Deal Value
Approx. EUR 300 million
Role
Counsel to City of Espoo
Team
Rabbe Sittnikow, Jussi Ekonen, Janna Pihanurmi, Janne Veneranta, Roosa Väre, Markus Bremer, Maria Landtman, Samuli Pirinen, Heikki Vesikansa, Harri Vehviläinen, Piia Ahonen, Joakim Lavér

Rabbe Sittnikow

Jussi Ekonen

Janna Pihanurmi

Janne Veneranta

Roosa Väre

Markus Bremer

Maria Landtman

Samuli Pirinen

Heikki Vesikansa

Harri Vehviläinen

Piia Ahonen

Joakim Lavér
Parties
DWS (buyer), Regenero (Seller)
Transaction
DWS's acquisition of the Accountor Tower, a 24,000 sq. m. office development in Keilaniemi, Espoo, from YIT and HGR Property Partners’ joint venture Regenero
Deal Value
Value not public
Role
Counsel to DWS

Tapio Teräkivi

Tuuli Pikkarainen

Panu Vikberg

Noora Britschgi

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen

Piia Ahonen
Counsel in Supreme Administrative Court case confirming real estate investor’s right to deduct VAT on transaction expenses

Matleena Pälve

Heikki Vesikansa

Piia Ahonen
Counsel to a taxpayer receiving confirmation that a transfer of a business at an early stage qualifies as a transfer of a going concern for VAT purposes.

Piia Ahonen

Heikki Vesikansa

Jenni Parviainen
The Finnish Supreme Administrative Court issued a resolution concerning the VAT treatment of intermediary services to Finnish students aiming to study abroad in the U.S. Piia Ahonen successfully defended the client’s position through instances, and the resolution issued by the Supreme Administrative Court as a yearbook decision finally confirms that the client’s position is right and that the tax assessments were unlawful. The intermediary services are not subject to Finnish VAT due to the fact that the client acted as an intermediary between U.S. schools and Finnish students in relation to U.S.-based education and accommodation services that are not taxed in Finland.

Piia Ahonen
Rankings
- Ranked "highly regarded", Indirect Tax Leaders Guide 2019
Memberships and Positions of Trust
- Member of the Finnish Bar Association
Education and Professional Background
- Specialist Partner, Hannes Snellman 2019-
- Senior Tax Manager (Local Partner 2015) Ernst & Young Oy, 2005-2019
- Tax Clerk, Tax Office for Major Corporations, 2004-2005
- Tax Clerk, Local Tax Office of Helsinki, 2002-2004
- Trained on the Bench, District Court of Mikkeli, 2001-2002
- Tax Auditor, Local Tax Office of Helsinki, 2001
- Master of Laws, University of Helsinki, 2001
- University of Stockholm, 1999
- Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, 1999