ISLAMABAD
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appointed a distinguished group of 25 tax experts from around the world to serve as members of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters for the 2021 to 2025 term.
Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Member Inland Revenue (Operations) is also included in the UN tax committee. The UN Tax Committee guides countries’ efforts to advance stronger and more forward-looking tax policies adapted to the realities of globalised trade and investment, an increasingly digitised economy and worsening environmental degradation.
It assists countries in their efforts to prevent double or multiple taxation as well as non-taxation, broaden their tax base, strengthen their tax administrations, and curb international tax evasion and avoidance.
In welcoming the appointments, President of the Economic and Social Council Munir Akram said, “I am delighted to see that such a diverse and capable group of experts has been appointed. I have high expectations for the Committee’s continued success in challenging times, which are nevertheless full of opportunity to stem the tide of tax-related illicit financial flows and shore up developing country capacities to mobilise and invest domestic resources in their own development.”
The UN Tax Committee fosters international cooperation on domestic and international tax matters. It works closely with observers from government, civil society, business and academia, to develop guidance and encourage an inclusive setting of norms and policies.
The new committee membership brings together tax practitioners with expertise in a wide range of areas, such as double tax treaties, transfer pricing, avoiding and resolving tax disputes, taxation of the extractive industries, taxation of the digital economy, environmental taxation, and value-added taxes. While nominated by their Governments, Committee members serve in their personal capacity.
The committee gives special focus to developing countries and their policy environment. The majority of the newly appointed members come from developing countries, and, for the first time since its inception, the Committee has a majority of women experts.
The first meeting of the new membership of the Committee will take place in October 2021, during which the experts will determine the work plan for their term.
