OECD Forum on Tax Administration meets at Dublin Castle
The Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen T.D., today (01/06/05) opened a conference of Heads of Tax/Tax Commissioners from OECD and non OECD countries and international organisations in Dublin Castle. The conference, hosted by the Revenue Commissioners, is the second meeting of the OECD's Forum on Tax Administration, an initiative to promote dialogue on strategic tax administration issues and facilitate the exchange of best practice. Over 100 delegates are attending the two-day conference.
Delegates were welcomed by Frank Daly, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners who said:
"I would like to thank the OECD for developing a forum in which we can work together as colleagues and equals. It is an opportunity for us to identify together the next wave of challenges we will face and to begin to put a shape on our response to them."
In his opening address to the conference, the Minister for Finance Mr. Brian Cowen T.D. said:
"This Forum highlights a key aspect of the relationship between tax administrations. The meeting brings together many of the world's leading professionals in a demanding and challenging field. Under the auspices of the OECD you have come together in a spirit of goodwill to share ideas and perspectives on the challenges that you face, and to exchange ideas and initiatives to help meet those challenges."
The conference has two compliance-related themes:
- Successful strategies for striking the balance between service and enforcement activities
- Dealing with tax professionals to achieve improved compliance with the laws
In his opening speech to the conference Mr Bjarne Hope (Chair, Forum on Tax Administration) said:
"The Forum on Tax Administration presents a rare opportunity to bring a large cross section of senior officials together. The chance for us to meet and to share ideas and experiences is of immense value to tax administrations in every one of the countries represented here."
[Ends 01/06/05]
Additional Information
The Forum on Tax Administration was created in July 2002 by the Committee on Fiscal Affairs (CFA) with the aim of promoting dialogue between tax administrations and of identifying good tax administration practices. These objectives reflect the high degree of commonality of the systems of taxation in OECD member countries and the potential value of sharing information on countries' experiences in their efforts to improve taxpayers' compliance, taxpayer service and administrative efficiency in a rapidly changing environment.
Conference papers and other background material are available at: www.oecd.org/ctp/fta
