Heads of tax administrations emphasise the importance of swiftly implementing the landmark global tax agreement and enhancing collaborative work on digital transformation

 

30/09/2022 – Marking the 20^th anniversary since its creation, the OECD's Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) held its annual Plenary meeting in Sydney, Australia, on 28-30 September 2022. Tax commissioners from across the globe, including representatives from international organisations, regional tax administration bodies and business, came together for their first in-person Plenary for three years.

 

Since its establishment in 2002, the FTA has provided invaluable support in helping tax administrations to learn from one another by sharing knowledge and experience. This has been impactful in multiple areas, from the implementation of exchange of information agreements to end bank secrecy, to the introduction of the Common Reporting Standard on offshore financial accounts for the automatic exchange of information, as well as in the implementation of the ground-breaking BEPS Actions to tackle tax avoidance.

 

The FTA also plays a vital role in co-operation on operational issues globally, such as the development of important tax certainty tools and the expansion of cross-border co-operation through the work of the Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration.

 

Today, the FTA has over 50 members, encompassing both developed and developing economies, which together make up over 90% of the global economy. This year's discussions at the Plenary meeting focused on the FTA's role in the successful and rapid implementation of the landmark global tax agreement, enhanced collaboration on delivering digital transformation and a further deepening of FTA support for tax capacity building.

 

"The value of this Forum is beyond question. Since its formation in 2002, it has helped to deliver landmark agreements to the international tax system, helping spur global investment and growth", OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. "As the digitalisation of the global economy proceeds at pace, new opportunities are now in sight for improved taxpayer services that can deliver fundamental reductions in tax gaps and compliance burdens. Collaboration between tax administrations is key to realising these goals."

 

"I am very proud of the achievements of the Forum on Tax Administration over the last 20 years, and of the breadth and depth of our work together and with our other international partners", said Bob Hamilton, Chair of the FTA and Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency. "During the pandemic we further strengthened international co-operation between tax administrations, and I look forward to building on that as we seek to deliver on our ambitious work programme for future global tax administration."

 

Further information, including on the latest FTA reports and future work programme, is available in the communiqué or at the following address https://oe.cd/FTAplenary2022.

 

For media enquiries, contact Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (+33 6 2630 4923), Bob Hamilton, Chair of the FTA, or Achim Pross, Head of the International Co-operation and Tax Administration Division (+33 6 2163 2767).