From 28 September to 2 October 2015 the IMF’s regional Technical Assistance Centers (AFRITAC) for central and southern Africa are holding a seminar on prevention of tax fraud. The seminar held in Mauritius in collaboration with the African Training Institute involves tax and customs experts from countries of south and east Africa. Participating countries are Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

The seminar is discussing good practice in preventing tax fraud and is looking at the development of a coherent strategy involving tax and customs agencies working together towards a common goal. A large proportion of the revenue resources of the participating states is derived from international trade, including value added tax (VAT) on imports and domestic business activity. Combating the continuing VAT fraud requires combined action by the tax and customs agencies dealing with VAT collection. This can be increased by information sharing, cooperation and integration of the tax and customs agencies.

There is a need for more collaboration between countries to establish the nature of the risks of fraud and to coordinate preventative measures and penalties. Practical tools adapted for each country are being developed in relation to trade data, fraud risk management and VAT control.