Strengthening ties: NTO Study Visit to IOTA Secretariat in Budapest

From 18 to 22 November 2024, the IOTA Secretariat in Budapest hosted the 2nd edition of the NTO Study Visit, welcoming colleagues from CREDAF and CIAT.

From 18 to 22 November 2024, the Intra-European Organisation of Tax Administrations (IOTA) Secretariat in Budapest, Hungary, hosted the 2nd edition of the Network of Tax Organisations (NTO) Study Visit, welcoming colleagues from the Centro Interamericano de Administraciones Tributarias (CIAT) and the Cercle de Réflexion et d’Échange des Dirigeants des Administrations fiscales (CREDAF).

Participants included Neila Jaén, Strategic Services Manager, and Ana Larrotta, Communications and Marketing Specialist, from CIAT, along with Ismaila Diallo, Deputy Secretary General of CREDAF, who took part in a comprehensive programme led by Eugenijus Soldatkovas, IOTA’s Work Programme Manager, to provide insights into his organisation’s work.

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Welcoming session by IOTA colleagues (left) to Study Visit participants (right).

Through strategic discussions, observations, and hands-on activities, I enhanced my understanding of operational frameworks that support efficiency and effectiveness in tax organisations.

Ana Larrotta,

CIAT’s Communications and Marketing Specialist.

 

The visit featured an in-depth exploration of the IOTA Work Programme lifecycle, including its planning, approval, and evaluation stages, led by Soldatkovas. The agenda also addressed technical enquiries and digital event management, along with strategic sessions on communication and promotional activities presented by Erika Szabó, Communications and Publications Specialist at IOTA. All in all, the sessions stood out for their practical relevance.

In addition to the formal programme, cultural and networking activities, such as a guided tour of Budapest, enriched the experience by fostering personal connections and mutual understanding.

The Secretariat of the NTO engaged with Ismaila, Neila, and Ana to gather further insights into their experiences during their week in Budapest.

 

Could you talk about a specific experience during the NTO study visit that really helped you better understand strategic processes in your organisation?

Neila (CIAT): The presentation on IOTA’s Annual Work Programme, which provided me with a deeper understanding of how strategic programmes are planned, implemented, and evaluated. The visit also enhanced my ability to manage projects in a more structured way, especially for hybrid and digital events. For example, I apply a more dynamic approach when organising technical workshops by integrating new digital tools I learned at IOTA.

Ana (CIAT): One of the most impactful moments was seeing how technology and tools optimize operations. It inspired me to streamline my processes, prioritise tasks effectively, and use templates to enhance productivity. Observing how all ideas were documented in accessible formats to later use in webinars, events, or articles demonstrated the value of capturing knowledge for future applications. I’ve started documenting meeting outcomes and project insights to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Ismaila (CREDAF): Overall, what impressed me the most were the presentations made by the IOTA colleagues on how their organisation works in terms of management: planning and then putting procedures in place to operationalise. Naturally, this requires competent human resources in a professional environment where everyone plays their part on the basis of team spirit.

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From L to R: I. Diallo (CREDAF), N. Jaén (CIAT), and A. Larrota (CIAT).

 

What cultural insights or unique practices did you observe during the Study Visit to IOTA?

Ana (CIAT): I observed how structured and collaborative IOTA’s publication planning is. This motivated me to adopt clearer, more systematic workflows in my own work, particularly for planning tasks like publications.

Could you share your main takeaways or key lessons?

Neila (CIAT): I highlight the value of technology as an essential tool for tax administrations. During the visit, we aimed to understand our services better and learn how to optimise their use and processes. I plan to apply this by improving database management, enhancing technical publications, and strengthening technical assistance through digital platforms, which will increase efficiency and impact, and benefit our organisation and members.

Ismaila (CREDAF): I've learned that procedures are of paramount importance in moving from strategy to operations. So, it's important to have centralised management of procedures - via the website for IOTA, for example, while maintaining a well-structured sequencing with well-defined levels of responsibility. I also really appreciated the way IOTA manages its focal points in its member tax administrations. All this contributes to improving the efficiency of IOTA's activities. I've started using them as inspiration to improve things in my tax organisation.

Ana (CIAT): A key lesson I learned is the importance of prioritising tasks and simplifying information. I’ll apply this by making my outputs more concise and accessible for both internal teams and member countries.

Did you face situations that took you out of your comfort zone?

Ana (CIAT): As an introvert, I usually listen and observe, but this visit pushed me to ask more questions. It was challenging but helped me engage actively, gain insights, and build confidence in discussions.

Neila (CIAT): The supporting environment created by IOTA colleagues made the experience smooth and collaborative. Sharing CIAT’s experience with such a great team of professionals was a pleasure.

If this study visit was a movie, how would you name it?

Ismaila (CREDAF): Drawing on the IOTA experience: learning tour in Budapest.

Neila (CIAT): “Tax Evolution: Connections of the Future”. It reflects how NTO member organisations have the potential to unite forces and overcoming that challenges of modern tax administration using the power of technology and collaboration.

Ana (CIAT): I would call it “The Karate Kid” because it reflects my growth journey as a young professional learning through mentorship and hands-on experiences, much like Daniel’s journey with Mr. Miyagi.

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IOTA colleagues and participants to the NTO Study Visit. Click on the image for more information.
 

The NTO Study Visit reflects NTO’s efforts to strengthen collaboration and peer learning across its network by providing a platform for knowledge sharing, partnerships, and discussions on common challenges.

 

Links of interest:

Insights on the NTO Study Visit 2023