Global tax experts convene in Cape Town to drive Digitalisation in Tax Administration

Under the theme "Digitalisation of Tax Administrations and Contemporary Issues", the conference featured a hybrid format with more than 150 in-person attendees and over 200 virtual participants.

Tax officers and experts from more than 180 tax authorities worldwide gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5 to 7 September, 2023, for the 2nd Network of Tax Organisations (NTO) Technical Conference. This international event, hosted by the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) and organised by the Network of Tax Organisations, was held under the theme "Digitalisation of Tax Administrations and Contemporary Issues."

The conference marked a significant milestone in the global tax landscape, featuring a hybrid format with over 150 in-person attendees and more than 200 virtual participants. Representatives from international organisations, the academia, tax leaders, fiscal policy experts, government revenue officers, and IT and digitalisation specialists engaged in extensive technical discussions, sharing insights and experiences from their diverse global perspectives, and based on their daily work.

Representative images of the NTO Conference — *Participants and engagement in the NTO Conference © GIZ*

Throughout the three-day event, attendees participated in various formats, including plenary and breakout sessions, presentations, open discussions, and interactive Q&A sessions with the virtual audience. Valuable conversations also continued during informal moments, such as coffee breaks and corridor discussions, fostering even more opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Highlights of the conference included in-depth discussions on:

Digital Transformation of Tax Administration: The conference's discussions focused on leadership, strategic vision, tools for measuring progress, and successful digitalisation strategies through well-defined procurement and change management plans. Collaboration among NTO members was highlighted as a key driver for accelerating digitalisation.

Tax Compliance and Enforcement Technology: Technology's transformative role in enhancing efficiency and empowerment in tax compliance took the spotlight, as well as the positive impact of the electronic invoice system. Emphasis was placed on data integrity and data science.

Emerging Technologies: Attendees explored the potential of new technologies, including blockchain and artificial intelligence, for improving detection of non-compliance and data management and analytics. There was also a strong emphasis on the importance of data quality and digital literacy within tax authorities.

NTO Conference plenary session — *SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter addressing the opening of the NTO Conference © GIZ*

The NTO welcomes a new member

The conference saw the Network of Tax Organisations expand its reach and expertise as it welcomed the Study Group on Asia-Pacific Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR) as its newest member. This addition strengthens NTO's commitment to enhancing the performance of tax administrations worldwide.

SGATAR becoming a member of NTO — *Signing ceremony by which SGATAR officially became member of the NTO © GIZ*

Today, the Network of Tax Organisations comprises ten regional and international tax organisations, united in their mission to create a global platform for strengthening tax systems for the well-being of people.

Quote card of Martina Metz

A report on the 2nd NTO Technical Conference will be published soon.

Participants will still have access to the virtual platform of the event until 07 October 2023.

For further queries, please contact us at nto.conference@taxcompact.net