ATAF and OECD join forces to address COVID-19 impact on Tax
African Tax Administration Forum • April 16, 2020
On 16 April, ATAF and OECD joined forces to organise a virtual meeting with over 70 participants from 27 ATAF member countries, to discuss tax policy and tax administration measures governments are considering or could consider as part of their immediate response to COVID-19.
ATAF and OECD have published a range of measures that could help manage the impact of COVID-19 on tax. This webinar was served as a follow-up to these measures and offered an opportunity for Revenue Authorities to share their experiences, and gather insights from their peers on on-going and envisaged policy options.
The workshop brought together representatives of ATAF member countries, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Oversees Development Institute (ODI), the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), and the OECD. In addition to the measures so far developed by ATAF
and the OECD, the Oversees Development Institute (ODI) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have also published a paper on how tax officials in lower-income countries can respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
In his closing remarks, the Executive Secretary of ATAF, Mr Logan Wort, emphasised the need to multiply such engagements in future in order to develop a comprehensive and coordinated response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 to countries' Tax administrations and economies.
The ATAF Model Tax Agreement serves as a guiding instrument to help African nations negotiate treaties that better protect their interests, ensure fair allocation of taxing rights, and enhance domestic revenue mobilisation.
CEMAC and ATAF agreed to explore practical avenues for cooperation, including technical assistance, regional training programmes, and platforms for experience exchange.
A key outcome of the training was the heightened awareness among FIRS officials of the critical role data plays in modern tax administration.
The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of tax officials to detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crimes such as tax evasion, money laundering, and illicit financial flows. It focused on practical approaches to financial crime investigation within the tax context.
Mr. Logan Wort emphasized the critical role of taxpayers in fostering economic growth and sustaining public services.
Taxation is a key aspect to increase gender equality since tax is one of the building blocks of society. In particular, it creates domestic resources which are a major source of funding for economic development and empowerment.
ATAF emphasised the importance of harmonised tax systems and advocating for revenue-generation mechanisms that would sustain government finances while fostering trade liberalisation.
ATAF is gearing up for a highly anticipated event: the ATAF Women in Tax Network Leadership Conference. Set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 5-6, 2025, this conference promises to be a pivotal moment for women in the tax and economic sectors across Africa.
The ATAF Women In Tax Network (AWITN) pledge is a commitment by various countries to adopt a focused, gender-sensitive approach to tax policy and administration.
The workshop aimed to bridge the gap between tax authorities and the media, improving the clarity and accessibility of tax-related information to foster public awareness and boost tax compliance.
