What you will learn

At the workshop, we will stress the importance of sharing intelligence, using different data sources, conducting collective action, reinforcing social norms, and applying a whole-of-government approach. 

The main aim will be to point out the importance of multi-faceted strategies to fight shadow economy activities, and to showcase specific strategies for a specific sector, i.e. the construction sector.

By completing the learning initiative you will improve your capacities in the following areas:

• tax policies and measures for carrying out business transactions and making payments through formal banking channels
• what actions tax administrations in SEE can take to manage the shadow economy effectively (compliance and investigative strategies)
• how tax administrations can influence tax morale
• specifics of construction sector

This learning initiative will include a combination of presentations by subject-matter experts, group work activities followed by answer and question sessions.

Participants will be encouraged to share information on national strategies for fighting the shadow economy, with a particular focus on construction sector.

How you will benefit

By the end of the workshop you will be able:

• Understand the importance of convincing business owners to pay taxes (simplified tax payment and provided incentives to formalize businesses).
• Understand why shadow economies are a complex phenomenon and how to deal with it.
• Understand the correlation between levels of tax complexity and informality.

Who should attend

The workshop is created mid-to-senior level tax officials from risk management, audit, criminal tax investigation, analytic, anti-fraud and tax police departments; and representatives of tax policy divisions in finance ministries involved and/or experienced in fighting the shadow economy.

No fee will be charged for officials working in the public sector. Travel and accommodation costs for up to two participants from Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (up to three), Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Romania and Ukraine will be covered by the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands. Applications of additional self-funded candidates from the SEE region (and beyond) will be considered, as far as space permits. 

Faculty

Sietse S. Brouwer, Tax and Customs Administration of the Netherlands

Partners

This learning initiative was supported by: