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The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) held its first General Assembly in Balaclava, Mauritius, this week (from Monday – Wednesday), focusing on illicit financial flows, tax evasion and tax avoidance among other issues, reports the Botswana Gazette.
According to a press release from the organisation, the meeting, under the theme “The International and Domestic Aspects of Tax Fraud, Evasion and Avoidance”, took form of presentations and panel discussions facilitated by heads of African Tax Administrations, development partners, the business sector and academics in the tax arena.
The deliberations include discussions on illicit financial flows, tax evasion and tax avoidance.
It will consider audit processes and compliance strategies. The General Assembly was also expected to discuss the distinctions between tax havens and genuine attempts to offer tax incentives for attracting foreign investment to stimulate economic national development.
A study commissioned by the United Nations (UN) indicates that illicit financial flows from the least developed countries have increased from US$9.7 billion in 1990 to US$26.3 billion in 2008, implying an inflation-adjusted rate of increase of 6.2 per cent per annum.
Prior to the meeting, the ATAF Chair, who is also South African Revenue Service Commissioner, Oupa Magashula expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by this young organisation: “African Revenue bodies have responded very well to the formation of ATAF.
Over the past year the organisation has grown to 34 member countries from the continent. The opportunity for heads of tax administration to engage on common challenges of domestic revenue collection and the building of capable institutions has been very valuable.” ATAF Acting Executive Secretary, Logan Wort, also noted that ATAF was already making a huge impact – not only in Africa but internationally as well, through various policy and technical interventions.“ We are tabling an annual report that will reflect over 300 African tax officials having received skills training through ATAF’s 16 technical training programmes. Working Groups on Transfer Pricing and Tax Treaties are progressing very well and engagements on the challenges of Domestic Resource mobilisation have been very fruitful.” Also on the agenda is the organisation’s three year strategy, Annual Report and the activities of the ATAF Council and Secretariat over the past year.
ATAF was launched in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2009 to provide a platform for African tax administrations to address common tax policy matters and capacity building initiatives to support social and economic development. ATAF has since grown to 34 member revenue agencies
The ATAF General Assembly is hosted by the Mauritius Revenue Authority. The ATAF Council is made up of: Botswana, Rwanda, Senegal, Gabon, Morocco, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa (Chair).
The ATAF General Assembly is comprised of the heads of the Tax Administrations who are members of ATAF |
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