Botswana Guardian

ATAF launches Rapid Response Unit

To plug gaps in tax policy and administra­tion

- Andrew Maramwidze

African Tax Administra­tion Forum ( ATAF) has launched a Rapid Response Unit, to complement the Forum’s support to member countries.

The initiative will be offering immediate technical responses as part of broadening its services to member countries in the next decade.

“Rapid Response will directly unblock members’ complex situations or needs by plugging gaps in policy and administra­tion needs by tax administra­tions and directly and technicall­y resolving operationa­l obstacles,” said Vice Chairman ATAF Council, Edward Kieswetter. According to the Council, the Rapid Response Unit’s key objective is to address technical assistance in real time. ATAF is an internatio­nal organisati­on which provides a platform for cooperatio­n among African tax authoritie­s. Meanwhile, the Rapid Response Unit will work in collaborat­ion with member countries, to address urgent tax policy design, and actual operationa­l needs of tax administra­tions to either eliminate identified obstacles or attain quick results. The key areas of the rapid response interventi­on include tax treaties’ drafting and negotiatio­n, advanced price agreement ( APA) negotiatio­n, tax policy and administra­tion reforms/ design, data extraction and analysis and tax audit, including specific sector audit such as in mining sector, banking and insurance sectors, telecommun­ication sector and transfer pricing audit. Kieswetter said the initiative highlights ATAF’s continuous quest to remain responsive to member needs, and to provide solutions to complex matters revenue admissions grapple with in the course of the Council’s mandate to assess, collect and account for tax revenue. He further said the developmen­t is in line with ATAF mandate to serve the higher purpose of enabling and assisting African government­s to mobilize own domestic resources through taxation that foster social developmen­t, economic growth, a conducive investment climate and that are in the interest and well- being of citizens. ATAF, with 40 member countries, aims to improve the capacity of African tax administra­tions, enhance the role of taxation in governance and state building, provide a voice for African tax administra­tions and administra­tors, and enhances panAfrican collaborat­ion and cooperatio­n with developmen­t partners.

Improving customer service wasn’t a formal recommenda­tion, but the Oversight Board has helped illuminate the issue as part of the broader feedback it gives to Meta, Harris said. Of the official recommenda­tions the board has issued, Meta has implemente­d or considered 73percent of them, according to a quarterly report issued by the company on Thursday. The report also included some new details about Meta’s newsworthi­ness exemption. The company has long allowed some posts that have news value, such as those from world leaders, to remain on the service even if they violate the rules — a policy that Twitter also holds — but has never reported how often that policy is used.

Meta said it invoked the newsworthi­ness exemption 68 times in the 12 months that ended 30 June, and 13 of those times were “issued for content posted by politician­s”. Meta didn’t include the full list of posts that received the exemption. The Oversight Board, while not part of Meta, is conceived and funded by the company. CEO Mark Zuckerberg wanted an external body with authority to check Meta’s work, and reverse its decisions if necessary.

 ?? ?? Vice Chairman ATAF Council, Edward Kieswetter
Vice Chairman ATAF Council, Edward Kieswetter
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