New Chair of the OECD Forum on Tax Administration

The OECD is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chair of its Forum on Tax Administration (FTA).  Mr. Pravin Gordhan, Commissioner, South African Revenue Service (SARS) assumed his role as Chair on 1 May 2008.

The FTA brings together Commissioners from 30 OECD member countries and non-OECD economies to share information and experiences and to develop best practices for tax administration in the areas of taxpayer service and compliance.  Given the diversity of its membership, the Forum on Tax Administration provides a unique opportunity for heads of national revenue bodies to meet and discuss key issues of interest. With between 35-45 countries typically represented at each meeting and discussions focused around issues of major importance, the FTA has become the Forum of first choice for heads of national revenue bodies to interact with their counterparts.

“It is a tremendous honour for South Africa and SARS to be elected to chair the Forum by the heads of the OECD tax administrations and so to contribute to addressing the challenges faced by tax administrations globally. What makes this especially significant is that South Africa is an observer to the OECD’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs and not a full member,” Gordhan said.

The immediate priorities for the FTA arising from its meeting in Cape Town in January 2008 are to:

• Build on the FTA’s study into the role of tax intermediaries, including a review of the role played by banks and high net worth individuals in tax planning
• Better understand global trends in business and their implications for tax administrations
• Contribute to establishing an International Tax Centre on the African continent in order to build capacity amongst African tax and customs administrations

About Pravin Gordhan

He was appointed Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS) in November 1999 with the important task to transform South Africa’s Customs and Revenue administration.

He joined SARS as Deputy Commissioner in March 1998, following a successful term as Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, which had oversight over the implementation of South Africa’s new constitutional order after 1994.

Under his tenure as SARS Commissioner the organization has demonstrated significant improvements including: 

• Marked increases in revenue collection
• Administration of major tax policy reforms 
• A visible increase in the tax and customs compliance culture 
• Enhanced status and capacity for the SARS’ Customs component