Technical Notes and Manuals

Voluntary Disclosure Programs — Design, Principles, and Implementation Considerations

ByDora Benedek, Martin Grote, Grace Jackson, Maksym Markevych, Christophe J Waerzeggers, Lydia E Sofrona

April 6, 2022

More Formats on IMF eLibrary
Order a Print Copy

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Dora Benedek, Martin Grote, Grace Jackson, Maksym Markevych, Christophe J Waerzeggers, and Lydia E Sofrona. "Voluntary Disclosure Programs — Design, Principles, and Implementation Considerations", Technical Notes and Manuals 2022, 002 (2022), accessed 12/6/2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400206184.005

Export Citation

  • ProCite
  • RefWorks
  • Reference Manager
  • BibTex
  • Zotero
  • EndNote

Disclaimer: This Technical Guidance Note should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Note are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

This note explores the conditions, design elements, and implementation considerations of a successful voluntary disclosure program (VDP), including its compliance with anti–money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) international standards. The note emphasizes that such a program must be offered in the context of a considerably strengthened and credible enforcement capacity—one that is explicitly publicized to taxpayers—to avoid undermining tax morale.

Subject: Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), Crime, Expenditure, External position, Flat tax, Foreign assets, Revenue administration, Tax administration core functions, Tax evasion, Taxes

Keywords: A. Elements of VDPS, AML/CFT, Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), anti–money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism, Flat tax, Foreign assets, Global, Illegal Behavior, IMF manaqement, offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, Tax administration core functions, Tax evasion, Tax Evasion, tax policy Design, Tax Policy Design, Tax Revenues, VDP adjudication unit

You May Also Be Interested In...

Enhancing Tax Capacity: Revenue Gains from Strengthening Tax Administration

10/24/2025

Setting Up Fiscal Rules in Lesotho: Kingdom of Lesotho

10/14/2025

Taxes in Lithuania: Benchmarking and Policy Options

10/13/2025

Reforming Energy Subsidies in the Arab Region

10/9/2025

Building Tax Capacity for Growth and Development: Evidence-Based Analysis for Mobilizing Domestic Revenue

10/9/2025