CATA Annual Technical Conference in Colombo

Sri Lanka will host the 32nd Annual Technical Conference of Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) to be held from September 18 to 23 in Colombo. The Inland Revenue Department is the main organizer of the Conference under the patronage and guidance of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The 31st Annual Technical Conference of CATA was held in Abuja of Nigeria in October 2010.

This conference is an avenue for tax collectors and tax administrators to acquire skills, knowledge, and competencies to deal with issues emerging in specialized sectors which are changing very fast. The main objective of the conference is to share information through which the participating countries would acquire knowledge of taxation of transfer pricing and taxpayer education as a compliance tool.

The Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) was established as a result of a decision taken at the meeting of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers in Barbados in 1977.

Following the decision, CATA’s constitution was drawn up by an interim management committee elected at a meeting of senior Commonwealth Tax Administrators held in London from May 22 to 23, 1978. The organization was initially set-up with twenty seven commonwealth member countries under the umbrella of Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Today, the membership of CATA has grown up to 48 countries; making it the largest organization of its kind in the world. CATA’s activities now include Annual Technical Conference and workshop, high quality training programmes for tax officials, in country training programmes tailored to meet the specific needs of members, publication of quarterly news letter, Provision of Consultancy Services and research facilities for members upon request, the supply of information to members, and internet service.

CATA Mission

The purpose of the Association is to promote the improvement of tax administration in all its aspects within the Commonwealth with particular emphasis on developing countries. To this end the activities on the association may include. Then 32nd CATA Annual Technical Conference will be held at Hotel Galadari Colombo, with the participation of more than 150 distinguished persons from 48 countries including seven participants from Sri Lanka.

As the technical Conference has already selected the topics of transfer pricing and Taxpayer Education as a Compliance tool, participants are able to exchange information with different countries as each country has their own experience, tax policies and administration system depending on the size of the country, population development, administrative efficiency etc.

The main objective of the conference is to increase capacity and capacity building of Commonwealth countries.

Over the years, CATA has provided an excellent opportunity for tax administrators to meet, interact, and discuss emerging tax issues and enhance their skills and knowledge.

The Colombo Conference 2011 will also provide comprehensive candid and constructive discussions, come up with some useful recommendations and live up to all expectations.

Colombo Conference 2011, is mainly focused to discuss the above two topics and exchange the information with each participant country. Sri Lanka has entered into a number of tax treaties for avoidance of double tax with 41 countries and it has been evidenced that country is driven toward right direction, and hosting this kind of large and important conference is reflection or its world recognition.