The OECD's International Forum of Tax Administrations (FTA), which took place in Athens from 13 to 15 November, has concluded its work. Representatives of international organizations, businesses, and academic institutions as well as heads of tax administrations from 53 countries attended the conference.

During this year's conference, on the theme of transforming tax administrations worldwide, participants discussed and agreed on a number of ambitious initiatives to:

• Supporting digital transformation,
• Supporting the transformation of the tax system; supporting the transformation of the digital economy; and strengthening the certainty of the tax system,
• Strengthen global cooperation,
• challenging leadership and promoting gender balance and diversity.

In particular, the main points analysed during the forum were:

• Developing pilot projects to support automated and secure information exchange between tax administrations and third parties, as well as deepening knowledge sharing and the reliable use of AI to encourage investment in digital transformation.
• Support the implementation of the global minimum tax and strengthen the tax certainty framework to maximise compliance and minimise tax differences.
• Expanding collective efforts to increase the efficiency of the tax system through collaboration with regional tax organizations and engaging tax administrations to promote transparency in leadership and gender diversity.

FTA Chairman, Commissioner Bob Hamilton, referring to the scope of this year's conference, said that new technological tools and the digitization of the economy offer unique opportunities to reduce tax gaps and compliance burdens globally, as well as to achieve tax certainty, while highlighting the need for close cooperation between tax administrations in both developed and developing countries, businesses and other stakeholders.

For her part, Manal Corwin, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, referred to the huge potential of digital transformation, as defined in the FTA's vision "Tax Administration 3.0," both for taxation and the wider economy, and pointed to the need to find common ground so that all tax administrations worldwide can benefit from and participate in this work.

The Governor of the Independent Public Revenue Authority, Giorgos Pitsilis, on the sidelines of the conference discussions, noted: "We are particularly pleased that Greece hosted the 17th OECD International Forum of Tax Administrations. Athens was the ideal setting to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing tax administrations amidst rapid technological developments. The participation of leading tax experts from around the world demonstrates the importance attached to these meetings.

The DPA is committed to actively contributing to the implementation of the decisions taken during the conference. Our goal is to make the Greek tax administration even more dynamic, efficient and fair, taking advantage of best international practices.".