Exchange of experiences in Havana on tax administration

The Convention Centre in Havana Cuba hosted the 16th International Tax Seminar as part of the EU-Cuba Expertise Exchange programme, which is funded by the European Commission with a budget of €3,500,000 and managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

Under the title “Past, Present and Future of Tax Administration”, the National Office of Tax Administration of the Republic of Cuba (ONAT) put the focus of this meeting on the relationship between taxpayers and tax administrations and the creation of mechanisms to fight fraud and tax evasion.  This event was organised by Cuba’s Ministry of Finance and Prices, the Inter-American Centre of Tax Administrations (CIAT) of Panama, and the National Association of Economists and Accountants of Cuba (ANEC), with collaboration from the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).

The event was a meeting point for the exchange of experiences and strategies where new ideas emerged;  which will contribute to the common objective of developing a tax system that is more transparent, equitable and just for citizens. As such, it included the presence of senior representatives of different tax management bodies from Europe (Italy, Portugal and Spain) and Latin American (Chile, Paraguay and Brazil).

During the meeting, matters of vital importance in the field of tax administration were addressed, such as the analysis of Latin American contexts, characteristics of the different fiscal systems, new methods of tax inspection and new challenges at the national and regional level.

Attendees at the meeting included, among other officials, the Minister of Finance and Prices of Cuba, the Head of ONAT, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Centre of Tax Administrations (CIAT), the European Union Ambassador to Cuba and the Director-General of the Spanish State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT). FIIAPP Director Pedro Flores attended the meeting and highlighted the importance of the EU-Cuba Expertise Exchange Programme. Likewise, he summarised the main activities undertaken by the Foundation on cooperation in the field of taxation, stating that “this sector is fundamental to improving the functioning of the public systems that FIIAPP carries out”.