In August 2016, the Indian Constitution was amended to empower both the center and the states to levy and collect goods and services tax (GST). The GST Council is a constitutional body created to steer the GST implementation; it is made up of Finance Ministers from the center and the states, and it is chaired by the Union Finance Minister. The GST Council recently announced that GST will be rolled out on 1 July 2017. India has decided to adopt a Dual GST model wherein both the center and the states will levy and collect GST on a common tax base, and the taxpayer will have to interface with only one of the two tax administrations. GST will be a destination-based consumption tax subsuming 17 current indirect taxes – the principal ones being Excise, Countervailing Duty of Customs, and Service Tax of the center and state VAT.
Fixing the tax system
Mon Abrea's recent article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer discusses "How do we fix our [The Philippines] tax system when taxpayers are in cahoots with tax collectors?" Full article: https://business.inquirer.net/223360/fixing-tax-system#ixzz4Wc5OrP6E
2016 Year in Review
In 2016, ITIC organized or participated in dozens of events around the world, bringing together public-sector stakeholders, industry representatives, and academics to foster mutual understanding and trust on taxation matters. Below are several ITIC highlights from 2016.
Eighth Africa Tax Dialogue
More than 60 tax officials, leading academic specialists and private-sector representatives from 18 countries convened in Cape Town, South Africa on 15-17 November for the eighth Africa Tax Dialogue to discuss the balance between domestic revenue mobilization and enhancing the investment climate. ITIC hosted the meeting in cooperation with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA).
Turkey Hosts Middle East/North Africa Tax Forum
Regional tax administration officials, business leaders and tax experts from 14 countries met in Ankara, Turkey on 8-10 November for the seventh annual Middle East/North Africa Tax Forum, co-hosted by ITIC and the Revenue Administration of the Turkish Ministry of Finance.
Dave Camp Joins ITIC as an Honorary Co-Chairman
In November 2016, the Hon. Dave Camp, former Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives, now a senior policy advisor with PwC, joined ITIC’s Board of Directors as an Honorary Co-Chairman.
Chairman Camp brings to ITIC an extensive tax policy background and valuable insight on the global business environment. His role with ITIC will allow him to pursue his strong interest in international tax and trade issues and offer his perspective on complex tax policy in transition economies around the world. Full press release
Robert Zoellick Delivers Frenzel Memorial Lecture on Tax and Trade
In cooperation with the Institute for International Economic Policy at The George Washington University, ITIC held the Second Annual Frenzel Memorial Lecture on Tax and Trade in Washington on 6 October. The event is named in honor of Bill Frenzel, the founding Chairman of ITIC and a 10-term Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who passed away in 2014.
The 2016 Lecture was delivered by the Honorable Robert B. Zoellick, former World Bank President and former U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The session was moderated by Jeffrey E. Garten, Dean Emeritus of the Yale School of Management.
An excerpted summary of Mr. Zoellick's remarks is available here.
12th Eurasia Tax Forum
ITIC convened the 12th Eurasia Tax Forum in The Hague, Netherlands on 21-23 June, with 70 delegates from 14 countries, representing ministries of finance, tax administrations, academic institutions, and the private sector.
Dr. Onno Ruding, former Minister of Finance of The Netherlands and Vice Chairman of Citibank, opened the meeting with his keynote address on "Europe's evolving relations with Eurasia."
Indonesia Hosts Asia-Pacific Tax Forum
On 23-25 May in Jakarta, Indonesia, ITIC held the 13th annual Asia-Pacific Tax Forum in cooperation with the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), Mercu Buana University, AMCHAM Indonesia, and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.
The meeting, hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, included more than 100 international delegates from the Asia-Pacific region, along with more than 180 Indonesian officials and students, making it ITIC's largest Forum to date.
Principles for Developing Country Hydrocarbon Investment Policies Released
In February, ITIC developed a set of principles for hydrocarbon investment policies that experts believe will assist in the dialogue between developing countries and prospective oil and gas exploration and development investors. The Principles for Developing Country Hydrocarbon Investment Policies are designed as a potential framework for collaboration between countries and investors to ensure countries obtain full value for their resources while attracting and sustaining the substantial investments and operational expertise needed for efficient, safe, and environmentally sound resource development. Continue reading
ITIC Establishes Presence in Africa
In early 2016, ITIC strengthened its presence in Africa by launching an affiliate office in Lagos, Nigeria headed by Reggie Mezu, a long-time Senior Advisor, who serves as ITIC’s Africa representative and leads ITIC’s growing programs in the region.
Mr. Mezu remarked, “Having an ITIC presence in Africa will provide a strong platform to build new partnerships with public-sector stakeholders and industry groups to further advance ITIC’s missions and programs throughout Africa."
The Basis for the Harmonization of VAT and Excise Taxes in SADC
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) aims to become a Free Trade Area, Customs Union, Common Market, and Monetary Union through the introduction of the single currency, with support for regional integration by Member States utilizing the basic elements of fiscal policy coordination and harmonization. VAT coordination among Member States will ensure uniform treatment in the taxation of Member States' goods and services; limit the occurrence of tax fraud; and control imports/exports and management of information on cross-border transactions.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Taxation and Related Matters and the Protocol on Finance and Investment are two instruments that will help support the coordination of fiscal policies in the SADC. However, for easy implementation, bilateral agreements between Member States are recommended.
18 Countries Discuss Tax Coordination in Africa Tax Dialogue
Washington, DC – Regional fiscal officials, leading academic specialists and private-sector representatives from 18 countries convened this week in Cape Town, South Africa, for the eighth Africa Tax Dialogue to discuss the balance between domestic revenue mobilization and enhancing the investment climate. The meeting, hosted by the International Tax and Investment Center, in cooperation with The Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, featured discussions on corporate taxation; mining, oil and gas, and carbon taxation; assessment of the Davis Tax Reform Committee reports; developments in VAT; and e-commerce taxation.
His Excellency Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), presented the meeting’s opening address, “The Role of Business Investment to Deliver on the Post-2015 Development Agenda,” in which he remarked that “smart tax reform is critical to mobilizing resources for the 2030 agenda.”
The meeting also featured keynote remarks from The Honorable Kipyego Cheluget, Assistant Secretary General (Programmes), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Mr. Duncan Onduru, Executive Director, Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA); and The Honorable Judge Dennis Davis, Chair of the Davis Tax Committee. Commenting on the high-level participation in this year’s meeting, ITIC President Daniel Witt noted, “This reinforces that taxation, and especially tax administration, has taken on a new level of attention as a key instrument in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Investment and tax are key drivers of inclusive growth and poverty reduction.”
The Africa Tax Dialogue is an annual conference organized by ITIC to bring together regional government officials, academic experts and investors to discuss tax coordination within regional economic communities in Africa.
Contact:
Diana McKelvey (Communications Manager, ITIC)