Technological solutions offer a clear path for dramatically reducing tax evasion and tax fraud, which cost governments billions in lost revenue annually, according to a new OECD report.
Technology Tools to Tackle Tax Evasion and Tax Fraud demonstrates how technology is currently being used by tax administrations in countries worldwide to prevent, identify and tackle tax evasion and tax fraud. These solutions can offer a win-win: better detection of crime, higher revenue recovery, and synergies that can make tax compliance easier for business and tax administrations.
Drawing on the experience of 21 countries, the report provides real and readily-applicable examples of best practices in the effective use of technology in the fight against tax crimes:
- In Rwanda, the introduction of point of sale technology to address electronic sales suppression resulted in a 20% increase in VAT collected on sales.
- In the Canadian province of Quebec, similar technology was introduced in the restaurant sector, resulting in the recovery of approximately EUR 822 million in taxes.
- In Hungary, electronic cash registers increased VAT revenue by 15% in the concerned sectors.
The report will be launched today during the 2017 OECD Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum in Paris. The event brings together stakeholders from government, academia, business, trade and civil society to engage in dialogue on policy, best practices, and recent developments in the fields of integrity and anti-corruption.
Grace Perez-Navarro, Deputy Director of the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration will present the report during the Forum’s session on “Restoring Trust in the Tax System: Ensuring Everyone Pays their Fair Share“. This session will be broadcast live from 11:00-12:30 (CEST). Further details are available on the Forum website:
www.oecd.org/cleangovbiz/live-streaming-anti-corruption-integrity-forum-2017.htm
The report was prepared by the OECD’s Task Force on Tax Crimes and Other Crimes, which works to further the Oslo Dialogue. Launched by the OECD in 2011, the Oslo Dialogue promotes a whole-of-government approach to tackling financial crimes by fostering inter-agency and international co-operation.
For more information on the work of the OECD in tax and crime, contact Grace Perez-Navarro, Deputy Director of the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration on +33 1 45 24 18 80 or Achim Pross, Head of the International Co-operation and Tax Administration Division on +33 1 45 24 98 92.
