Global Forum launches an Induction Programme for Serbia for implementation of the international tax transparency standards

 

An Induction Programme for Serbia to participate in and benefit from the international advances in tax transparency and exchange of information was launched with the visit of a team from the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum) on 27-28 March 2019.

 

Mr. Dónal Godfrey, Deputy Head of Secretariat, Ms Mathilde Sabouret and Mr. Hakim Hamadi, Tax Policy Advisors visited Belgrade and met with senior leaders and officials including the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Finance, Mr Luka Tomic, the Assistant Minister for the Fiscal System Sector Mr Dragan Demirovic, and the Head of the Tax administration Ms Dragana Markovic. The authorities of Serbia confirmed their commitment to the international standards and their determination to ensure a rapid implementation of these standards in their country.

 

The induction programme is designed to help new members of the Global Forum ensure a smooth implementation of the international standards and benefit from exchange of information in their domestic revenue mobilisation efforts.

 

Serbia, which joined the Global Forum in February 2018, will be reviewed against the standard of exchange of information upon request (EOIR) in 2021. The induction programme will enable Serbia to prepare its EOIR peer review and also take steps towards the implementation of the automatic exchange of information standard. Serbia will also receive assistance to join the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and to train its auditors in the utilisation of exchange of information during tax audits.

 

During the visit a sensitisation seminar was also held to raise awareness of participants from various Government agencies on the international standards of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes and their implications and opportunities for Serbia in the fight against tax evasion.

 

For more information please contact gftaxcooperation@oecd.org