Training Program

Managers and senior staff responsible for the delivery of tax dispute resolution services for direct taxes.

No formal qualifications are necessary, but participants should have at least five years' experience in a tax authority.

A key component of any modern tax administration is an effective dispute resolution process to deal with disputes arising between taxpayers and the administration. The desired outcome for a tax dispute resolution process is that it is fair and independent, is accessible to taxpayers and is effective in resolving disputed matters in a timely manner. 

This virtual workshop, presented remotely by the IMF's SARTTAC office, will take participants through an examination of international good practices in effective tax dispute resolution.  It will commence with a foundational discussion on the elements of a dispute resolution process, and the importance of impartiality, independence and timeliness in resolving disputes in managing perceptions of fairness. Good practice in dispute resolution with then be examined, including developments such as alternative dispute resolution techniques, and decreasing disputation through the provision of certainty via publication of the administration's views on potentially contentious issues or the use of compliance agreements with taxpayers. 

Areas covered during the workshop include:
Dispute management techniques
How to minimize disputes
Good international practices in dispute resolution including examples from tax administrations

At the completion of the workshop, participants will be equipped with an understanding of the elements of an effective tax dispute resolution process, and good international practices in dispute resolution. This can be expected to contribute to the ability of the national revenue authority to better conduct dispute resolution activities in the short to mid-term.