Emerging Tax Issues in Asia

The Eighth IMF-Japan High-Level Tax Conference For Asian Countries in Tokyo

March 22-23, 2017

The IMF and Japanese Ministry of Finance co-hosted the Eighth IMF-Japan High-Level Tax Conference for Asian Countries on March 22 to 23 in Tokyo. 

The conference was financed by the Japan Administered Account for Selected IMF Activities (JSA).

 

Day One, Wednesday, March 22

9:00 AM -
9:30 AM

Registration

Opening Ceremony
9:30 AM -
9:40 AM

Opening Address–Mr. Vitor Gaspar, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), IMF

9:40 AM -
9:50 AM

Welcome Address – Mr. Masatsugu Asakawa, Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance (MOF), Japan 

9:50 AM -
10:20 AM

Photo Session and Coffee Break

Session on Corporate Taxation Reform
10:20 AM -
12:00 PM

Fiscal Policy for Innovation and Growth, and Current Trends in Tax Policy: Tax policy can play an important role in stimulating innovation through its effects on research and development (R&D), entrepreneurship, and technology transfer. This session will consider the rationale for and design of tax policies aimed at encouraging innovation. It will also cover recent development in several participating countries.

Chair: Dr. Ananapibut, Director, Tax Innovation Division, Fiscal Policy Office, MOF, Thailand 

Presentations:

12:00 PM -
1:00 PM

Lunch Break

1:00 PM -
2:45 PM

International Taxation – Current Policy and Administration Challenges: Tax authorities are paying increasing attention to international tax issues. This session will focus on current issues and recent development in this fast-moving area, including lessons from the closer integration of international taxation issues into the IMF’s surveillance activities and on BEPS implementation. 

Presentations:

2:45 PM -
3:00 PM

Coffee Break

3:00 PM -
5:00 PM

International Taxation – Dialogue with Business Community: Especially, for countries that are keen to attract foreign direct investments, it is important to strike a right balance between the need to counter tax avoidance and the need to provide business-friendly environment. This session aims to facilitate interactive discussions between participants and representatives of large businesses in the region on their concerns in this area.

Chair: Professor Masui, University of Tokyo

Presentations:

Day Two, Thursday, March 23

Session on Taxation and Digitalization
9:00 AM -
10:30 AM

Tax Administration Issues -- Use of technology in tax administrations: Why are tax information technology (IT) systems so expensive? What is the total cost of ownership of a system? Is it better to build, buy or integrate? This session will explore these and other questions on use of IT systems in tax administrations, including the development of an effective IT strategy. 

Chair: Ms. Dwi Astuty, Deputy Director for Tax Treaties and International Tax Cooperation, DGT, Indonesia 

Presentations:

  • Mr. Dark, Expert, FAD;
  • Mr. Wong, Commissioner of Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong; 
  • Mr. Daud, Deputy CEO, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia  
10:30 AM - 10:45AM

Coffee Break

10:45 AM -
12:15 PM

Tax Policy Options: The final report on BEPS Action 1 considers direct and indirect tax challenges raised by the digital economy, and work in the area continues. This session will be based on presentations by countries that have introduced new rules in this area, and touch too on the potential revolutionary impact of new technology in other areas of taxation too. 

Chair: Mr. Keen, FAD

Presentations:

  • Mr. Kawanishi, Director for Tax Treaties and International Affairs, Tax Bureau, MOF, Japan;
  • Mr. Bhoot, Joint Secretary, Central Board of Direct Taxes, India;
  • Ms. Zhang, Deputy Director, Tax Policy Department, MOF, China

12:15 PM -
1:15 PM

Lunch Break

Session on Tax Fraud
1:15 PM -
2:45 PM

Legal framework, strategy, organization, capacity building to counter tax fraud: The 3rd Tax Conference (2011) discussed key issues in combatting tax fraud such as legal provisions and design of criminal investigation department. This session will take stock of progress in participants’ countries, and recent trends in tax fraud, including across national borders.

Presentations:

2:45 PM -
3:00 PM
Coffee Break
Session on Destination-Based Cash Flow Tax
3:00 PM -
4:00 PM

The proposal to replace the current corporate income tax in the U.S. by a ‘destination-based cash flow tax’ (DBCFT) has attracted worldwide attention. Leaving aside the U.S. context, this session will explain what the DBCFT is and discuss its implications

Presentation:

Concluding Session
4:00 PM -
4:15 PM

Concluding Remarks—Mr. Keen, FAD, IMF