DGI and CERAF in reflection on the prevention of tax fraud

2023-10-13 08:04:11

A conference for effective responses against tax fraud
In a dynamic of improving the Beninese tax system, the Center for Studies and Research on Administration and Finance (CERAF), in collaboration with the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), on Thursday October 12, 2023, proceeded at the opening of its scientific conference on tax fraud. With the participation of tax experts, specialists and academics from both Benin and other countries, this meeting which is held at the Palais des Congrès extends over two (02) days.
Sylvestre TCHOMAKOU
A country whose budgetary resources are largely made up of tax revenues, Benin, like most French-speaking West African states, is not spared from tax fraud which not only affects consent to tax, but also leads to shortfalls in earnings and compromises the distribution of the tax burden. Aware of this reality, the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) and the Center for Studies and Research on Administration and Finance (CERAF) have made the search for effective solutions against tax fraud a priority. It is with this logic that the “Scientific Conference on “the prevention of tax fraud” opened on Thursday October 12, 2023. Joint initiative of the two (02) above-mentioned institutions, this meeting, in a context where tax revenues contribute nearly 10 to 20% to the GDP of developing countries, compared to 30 to 40% in the countries of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), aims to provide, with the help of players in the field, innovative and forward-looking responses to the fight against the scourge. Better, in his opening speech, the Director General of Taxes (DGI), Nicolas Yènoussi, will explain “the idea of ​​holding such a conference which aims to be a space for sharing and exchange , (…) will allow our country to revitalize its system for preventing and combating tax fraud.” For him, during the two (02) days of reflection, it will be a question of discussing the challenges to be met and new strategies to be developed. It is then that the Central Director of the supervision of financial authorities, Peter Ruyumbu, will intervene, on behalf of the Minister of State for the Economy and Finance (MEF). Welcoming the various participants for the interest they place in the constant improvement of the Beninese tax system, he took care to recall the efforts of the tax administration in the prevention and fight against tax fraud. On the repressive level, this involves strengthening the means of control and sanctions. On a preventive level, these are means such as remote tax procedures, online tax declaration and payment, dematerialization of the filing of financial statements, etc., implemented. Stressing that: “to succeed in this fight, we must join hands, work together”, he hoped that the “recommendations which will result from this conference will make it possible (editor’s note) to wage an effective and efficient fight against this scourge”. It should be noted that over the two (02) periods of this conference, several panels are planned on themes such as normative prevention of tax fraud, managerial prevention and technological prevention. The opportunity will also be for experts from France, Belgium, Switzerland and many other countries to present their tax fraud prevention model so that a cross-analysis can be made to strengthen the institutional framework in material, in Benin.

QA October 13,