BIAC participates in Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) meeting
in Buenos Aires
18-19 January 2012 – Leadership of the BIAC Tax
Committee for the first time, participated in the meeting of the
OECD’s Forum on Tax Administration (FTA), on 18-19 January in Buenos
Aires.
Since its creation in 1997, the FTA has become a unique forum for
co-operation between revenue bodies at commissioner-level with
participation from 43 countries, including every G20 member and
selected non-OECD countries. The invitation to BIAC this year
reinforces the recognition of the significant contribution business
provides to OECD Tax work, and is a positive development for future
collaboration.
In Buenos Aires, one hundred and twenty Tax Commissioners and
administration officials from 45 countries gathered to address
“Strengthening tax Compliance through Co-operation.” The agenda
included a session on “Taking the relationship with Large Business
Further” to which BIAC Tax Committee Chair, Mr. Chris Lenon, and
BIAC Tax Committee Vice Chairs, Mr. William Morris, and Mr. Alan
Mclean participated. At the meeting Tax Administration officials
also reviewed recent FTA projects including projects addressing
smarter better structured tax administration, more effective
approaches to transfer pricing, and tax and governance.
BIAC has contributed to each of these projects. In sessions with
Tax Commissioners, Business leaders from Royal Dutch Shell, Procter
& Gamble and Telefonica shared their perspectives on doing business
globally in the current climate and ways in which tax administration
can make a positive contribution to growth. Speakers emphasised the
need for Tax Administrations to understand how business operates and
the need for genuine commitment and transparency from both sides and
mutual trust, in support of more effective tax administration and
enforcement.
Considerable discussion focused on the benefits for both tax
administrations and taxpayers which can be realised from the
“Enhanced Relationship” approach particularly associated with fiscal
authorities from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The management of transfer pricing programmes was also discussed
in terms of how approaches to the administration of transfer pricing
can be optimised in order that transfer pricing audits and enquiries
are conducted efficiently and in a timely manner.
This FTA focus on more effective approaches to Transfer Pricing
is of particular importance, and fully supported by BIAC. BIAC
recently submitted comments to the FTA on this particular issue.
This work also has particular relevance for the capacity building
work currently being considered in the Tax and Development Taskforce
at the OECD to which BIAC is actively engaged.
A number of Tax administrations were supportive of Business
participation in the FTA meeting, and BIAC looks forward to working
with the FTA going forward.
For further information, please contact Nicole Primmer at the
BIAC Secretariat.
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