Nigeria, Benin, Ghana lead tax reforms in Africa – WATAF

The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr Jules Tapsoba, says Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Senegal are among African countries leading reforms aimed at taxing digital services and online economic activities. He said the reforms have positioned the countries to mobilise revenue more effectively in an increasingly digitalised global economy. Tapsoba […]

The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr Jules Tapsoba, says Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Senegal are among African countries leading reforms aimed at taxing digital services and online economic activities.
He said the reforms have positioned the countries to mobilise revenue more effectively in an increasingly digitalised global economy.
Tapsoba stated this while speaking as a panellist at the 11th Africa Tax Symposium held recently in Rabat, Morocco.
According to him, tax administrations across West Africa have recorded significant progress in deploying digital technologies to improve taxpayer services, boost compliance, reduce leakages and widen the tax net.
He cited reforms undertaken by WATAF member countries, including integrated tax administration systems, electronic VAT platforms, digital dispute resolution mechanisms, electronic invoicing systems and enhanced online taxpayer services.
“While progress varies among countries, the overall direction is clear: tax administrations across West Africa are increasingly embracing digital solutions to improve efficiency, transparency and service delivery,” he said.
Tapsoba said WATAF, in collaboration with the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), was exploring support for the development of regional tools, guides and applications to strengthen taxation of the digital economy and facilitate information exchange between tax and customs administrations.
He said WATAF’s role goes beyond observing developments in the sector, noting that the forum provides training programmes, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, knowledge sharing platforms, research and strategic partnerships to help member countries build institutional capacity.
The symposium, organised by the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD), brought together tax commissioners, directors-general, policymakers, academics, development partners and tax professionals from across Africa and beyond to deliberate on emerging trends in international taxation and the future of tax administration.
Speaking on the theme, “The Tax Administration of the Future: Modernization and Reform for the Next Decade,” Tapsoba joined senior tax and development leaders from the Rwanda Revenue Authority, the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), the United Nations and other international institutions to examine how technology, digitalisation and innovation are reshaping tax administration across Africa and globally.
Meanwhile, Tapsoba was honoured with a plaque in recognition of his contributions to strengthening tax administrations across West Africa and advancing domestic revenue mobilisation in the region.
The award also recognised WATAF’s participation in international, regional and multilateral engagements on taxation and tax administration reforms.