About 30 revenue administration officials from the sub-Saharan Africa region are participating in a four-day seminar on the ”exchange of information” in a bid to improve the strategy-making process, enhance tax compliance management and facilitate trade, PANA reported from here Monday.
The seminar, organised by IMF AFRITAC South in collaboration with the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), is taking place at Le Méridien Hotel, Pointe-au-Piments, northern Mauritius.
According to MRA Chairperson Vasdev Hassamal, exchange of information has always been a key concern for tax administrators.
”But we have witnessed a keen interest of political leaders worldwide in exchanging tax information as a means to raise tax revenue in the face of the global economic recession,” he said.
Hassamal also said the fight against tax evasion is not the sole responsibility of tax authorities.
”It is a concern for all of us. This fight will only be won if each and everyone cooperates in the establishment of an effective mechanism for sharing and exchanging information,” he said.
The MRA official also said that with globalisation, revenue agencies were now being called to operate “without borders” and that exchange of information between tax agencies is a pre-requisite for them to operate optimally.
Hassamal expressed the belief that if properly managed and administered, exchange of information can benefit both the tax authority and the taxpayers.
