(July 19, 2015) 

The South African Revenue Services (SARS) issued a press release announcing that on July 16, 2015 South Africa and its bordering countries (including Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia) held a Cross-Border Forum on Illicit Financial Flows. In his opening remarks, SARS Commissioner, Tom Moyane, provided context to the meeting, saying, “Exports out of developing countries are often under-invoiced so that income is accrued abroad, and imports into developing countries are often under-invoiced, so that the excess payment accumulates in foreign accounts.”

The following Commissioners and Heads of Delegation attended the Forum:

·         Mr Tom Moyane, Commissioner, South African Revenue Service

·         Mr Thabo Letjama, Commissioner General, Lesotho Revenue Authority

·         Mr Dumisane Masilela, Commissioner General, Swaziland Revenue Authority

·         Mr Berlin Msiska, Commissioner General, Zambia Revenue Authority

·         Mr Segolo Lekau, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Botswana Unified Revenue Service

·         Mr Armindo Ubisse, Director of Financial Information Office, Mozambique Revenue Authority

·         Mr FJ van der Merwe, Deputy Director: Legal, Ministry of Finance, Namibia

During the Forum the following matters were deliberated:

a.   Illicit financial flows as they impact revenue authorities’ statutory mandate in the above mentioned countries;

b.   Developments in the international tax arena, such as base erosion and profit shifting, Transfer Pricing, trade mispricing etc.;

c.    Cross border tax and customs issues, such as illicit trade, counterfeits, smuggling etc.;

d.   Cooperation on the exchange of information; and

e.   Proposal for the establishment of a Sub-regional forum to enhance cooperation.

The Commissioners General and heads of delegation of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia have issued a Joint Statement. Click here to be forwarded to the text of this Joint Statement as available on the website of the SARS.

The participants requested South Africa to convene the next meeting of Commissioners General by the end of October 2015.

Click here to read a press release as issued by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) on July 17, 2015.

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