IOTA’s key role in the international tax arena was further strengthened by IOTA’s President’s active participation in the meeting of Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) at the United Nations. President addressed a key session of the conference, represented the organisation in a meeting of the regional tax organisations and held several side meetings with high-level representatives of international organisations.
IOTA, represented by its President, Mr Frantisek Imrecze participated in the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) which held its First Global Conference on February 14-16, 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference focused on the key directions for tax policy and administration needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speakers and participants included senior country policymakers, tax administrators, and representatives from academia, the private sector, civil society, donor organizations, and regional tax organisations.
Photo: IOTA President with Mr Hans Christian Holte, Commissioner of the Norwegian Tax Administration and Chair of the OECD Forum on Tax Administration (FTA)
The Platform for Collaboration on Tax is a joint effort launched by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN) and the World Bank Group (WBG) aimed to intensifying the co-operation on tax issues.
President of IOTA was a speaker in Session: “DRM (Domestic Resource Mobilisation) and State Building: Taxation for Better Governance”. Mr Imrecze highlighted the importance of trust for tax administrations in his speech and emphasized the following:
“Better tax governance and hence better revenue collection and effective state building are related to trust. Tax administrations are considered trustable if they are transparent enough in their processes and rules and if they ensure a fair treatment of their taxpayers. Efforts should be put on broadening the scope of the tax base and punishing those who engage in serious fraud and tax evasion schemes. By making the society aware of a selective approach based on their compliance and reporting back on the corresponding results, the tax authorities will strengthen confidence and trust with their taxpayers. Other factors that can build trust are fair, simple and transparent tax system and good governance processes related to data. If a business can plan its activity based on a stable and sound tax system and a reliable tax administration, then more investment and capital can be attracted to a country, which then allows boosting growth and development.”
Photo: IOTA President addressing the Session "DRM and State Building: Taxation for Better Governance”
President represented IOTA in a meeting of the regional tax organisations (such as CIAT, CREDAF and ATAF) with the partners of the PCT (IMF/OECD/UN/WB) where he expressed readiness of IOTA to extend cooperation both with the platform and bilaterally, with the platform members.
Mr. Imrecze used the opportunity to hold short side meetings in the margins of the conference with senior officials of the IMF, namely Mr Victor Gaspar, Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department and Mr Juan Toro, Assistant Director. He discussed strengthening international cooperation with Mr Alexander Trepelkov, Director of the Financing for Development Office at the UN, Mr Hans Christian Holte, Commissioner of the Norwegian Tax Administration and Chair of the FTA and with Mr Marcio Verdi, Executive Secretary of CIAT.
Photo (from left to right): IOTA President, Mr Alexander Trepelkov, Mr Victor Gaspar
Frantisek Imrecze also held a meeting with the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr Miroslav Lajcak at UN Headquarters in New York. During the meeting the President invited Mr Lajcak to the IOTA General Assembly, which will be held in June in Bratislava.
Photo: IOTA President with Mr Miroslav Lajcak
