15 July 2015
OECD and UNDP Launch ‘Tax Inspectors Without Borders’ at FfD Conference
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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched the 'Tax Inspectors Without Borders' (TIWB) initiative at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD).

The initiative aims to help developing countries increase domestic resource mobilization (DRM) by strengthening their tax audit capacities and is anticipated to help countries realize the post-2015 development agenda.

oecd-undp13 July 2015: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched the ‘Tax Inspectors Without Borders’ (TIWB) initiative at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD). The initiative aims to help developing countries increase domestic resource mobilization (DRM) by strengthening their tax audit capacities and is anticipated to help countries realize the post-2015 development agenda.

“Effective DRM is at the core of financing for sustainable development,” explained UNDP Administrator Helen Clark at the launch. She stressed, however, that “efforts to raise domestic resources are often constrained by tax evasion and avoidance and by illicit financial flows,” which the initiative will address. OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría described the initiative as a practical contribution to DRM, saying the partnership “will significantly extend the global reach of existing efforts to build audit capacity while sending a strong message of international support to developing countries.”

TIWB will use a learning by doing approach where current and retired tax officials will work directly with developing country tax officials on audits and audit-related issues. The experts will also share general audit practices to increase overall knowledge and skills related to tax administration. The initiative aims to encourage a culture of compliance through effective enforcement as well as to generate the potential for more revenues and increase certainty for taxpayers.

OECD and UNDP piloted TIWB in Albania, Colombia, Ghana and Senegal. Colombia experienced an increase in tax revenue from US$3.3 million in 2011 to US$33.2 million in 2014 following tax audit advice and guidance.

The TIWB Secretariat, composed of OECD and UNDP staff, will be based at OECD headquarters in Paris, France. [OECD Press Release] [UNDP Press Release] [Project Website] [TIWB Toolkit]


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