On 4-11 October 2023, IOTA successfully conducted an official study visit to the Inter-American Center of Tax Administration (CIAT)*. Under the framework of the Peer-to-Peer Cooperation Program between organizations members of the Network of Tax Organizations (NTO)*, the IOTA Strategy and Institutional Development Manager, Roman Bichevoy together with the PITAA Training Coordinator/ Office Administrator, Petero Maivucevuce had the opportunity to take part in a study visit at the CIAT Executive Secretariat in Panama City, Panama. 

In recent weeks, IOTA has been engaged in various technical activities. From 17th to 19th October 2023, IOTA hosted the Forum on Implementation of Measures to Counter Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) in Budapest, Hungary one of the most anticipated hybrid activities of the IOTA Work Programme. This event welcomed 39 tax officials from 21 IOTA member tax administrations gathered in person at the venue, while more than 80 attendees connected online to the activity.

Malta and the Slovak Republic shared experience in the framework of the IOTA Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project “Roll-out of transfer pricing legislation in Malta”. The latest IOTA Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project was successfully implemented by the Financial Directorate of the Slovak Republic as the Provider and Malta Tax and Customs Administration as the Beneficiary.

On 10-12 October 2023, IOTA successfully organised the Forum on Communication with the main theme of "How Digitalisation Reshapes Tax Communication and Unleashes the Power of Technology for Efficient Compliance" in Budapest, Hungary. The 3-day meeting provided a great opportunity to explore how IOTA member tax administrations adapt to new digital communication channels and how these tools improve trust and connection with taxpayers. The hybrid event was joined by over 40 communication experts from 28 IOTA member tax administrations gathered in person at the venue and more than 80 attendees connected online to the activity.

On 3-5 October 2023, IOTA had the pleasure of organising the Forum on Tax Debt Management “Tax Debt Management between a Rock and a Hard Place”, as the first hybrid event of the IOTA Work Programme 2023 autumn’s activity. The Forum took place in Budapest, Hungary, and brought together over 50 tax officials from 26 IOTA member administrations in person and more than 80 attendees digitally in order to learn more about strategies, working plans, and tailored approaches to decreasing tax debts in the period of global crises. Additionally, it was an absolute honour to welcome to the event guest speakers from our international partner organisations, the European Commission and the OECD.

Ferenc Vágujhelyi, President of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA), has been designated President of IOTA for the 2023-2024 Hungarian Presidency. By education, he is a physics teacher and a programming mathematician. His previous scientific publications and research focused on electronic identification and authentication, and on the potential applications of blockchain technology in public administration.