ATAF HIGH-LEVEL TAX POLICY DIALOGUE: ENSURING AFRICA’S PLACE IN THE TAXATION OFTHE DIGITAL ECONOMY
African Tax Administration Forum • August 22, 2019
OUTCOME STATEMENT
Over 110 officials from Ministries of Finance and African tax administrations of 21 countries, Members of Parliament, Civil Society, AfDB, OECD, UNECA, Development Partners including DfID, GIZ and SECO, other key partners and individual tax policy experts met in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on 31st July and 1st August 2019 for the 3rd ATAF High-Level Tax Policy Dialogue, with the theme “Ensuring Africa’s Place in the Taxation of the Digital Economy” to discuss building a stronger nexus in Africa between tax policy and tax administration. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority hosted the event and supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
His Worship, the Mayor of Victoria Falls, Mr Somvelo Dhlamini, welcomed all participants to Victoria Falls, stating that as one of the seven (7) Wonders of the World, it is an appropriate location for African countries to meet and make decisions that will benefit the continent. He stated that it is a privilege for his city to host this High-Level dialogue of African tax experts, and hoped all would have time for some tourist attraction, and the meeting was declared open by the ATAF Chairman Mr Tunde Fowler.
Click here to read the full Outcome Statement.
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.
