Africa tax authorities unite against illicit financial flows

The African Union Commission and the African Tax Administration Forum are uniting to combat illicit financial flows, cross-border tax evasion, and aggressive tax practices across the continent. This initiative emerged from a meeting between an ATAF delegation and the AUC Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The focus of these discussions was on African-led measures to boost revenue, improve tax compliance, and fund sustainable development. The Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters was identified as a crucial tool to enhance cooperation among African tax administrations through information exchange, tax collection assistance, joint tax examinations, and administrative cooperation.

Strengthening Africa's tax treaty networks was also deemed a priority, with the ATAF Model Double Taxation Agreement serving as a model for negotiating treaties that protect taxing rights and align with development goals. AUC Commissioner Francisca Belobe urged ATAF to engage more with the private sector to enhance tax compliance and expand the tax base.

Both institutions agreed to maintain cooperation on revenue challenges in extractive industries and other hard-to-tax sectors, recognizing that valuation issues, cross-border transactions, specialized contractual arrangements, and limited information can complicate effective taxation in these areas. The goal is to translate fiscal instruments into practical benefits for countries, with plans to renew their Memorandum of Understanding and develop a detailed work plan for the coming years.