This study presents the various developments in establishing technical cooperation and forming knowledge partnerships on taxation in Asia. Likewise, it discusses the role of knowledge partnerships towards developing tax policy and tax administration in the region.
For the Philippines which is seeking to establish a Philippine Tax Academy, the proposal can be a welcome development since it would not only upgrade the skills of the tax officials/personnel but also provide opportunities towards forming further knowledge partnerships and strengthening technical cooperation with other tax administrations and organizations in Asia and the rest of the world. The Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Finance can also take advantage of the opportunity for technical cooperation and knowledge partnership being promoted by various international tax organizations. In Asia, technical cooperation and knowledge partnership in taxation is becoming stronger due to the presence of regional tax organizations such as the Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR), Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) and bilateral/multilateral institutions, e.g., Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the support of the academe, private sector and the industry. Among others, these organizations have provided an effective communication channel where tax issues are discussed and solutions to various problems are formulated; and delivered technical assistance to the benefit of the members. Nonetheless, there is still room for further cooperation in Asia which can be explored among members such as expansion of membership and provision for more opportunities for knowledge and experience sharing.
Countries must exert effort to further promote global initiatives of technical cooperation and knowledge partnerships so that a more predictable, fair and equitable tax regimes in Asia and around the world can be realized.
