ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr. Jules Tapsoba, has highlighted the Forum’s growing role in supporting tax administrations across West Africa to modernize their operations, embrace digital transformation, and strengthen domestic revenue mobilization.
Mr. Tapsoba made the remarks while participating as a panelist at the 11th Africa Tax Symposium held in Rabat, Morocco, from June 3–5, 2026.
Organized by the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD), the symposium brought together tax commissioners, directors general, policymakers, academics, development partners, and tax professionals from across Africa and beyond to discuss emerging trends in international taxation and the future of tax administration.
As a panelist on the theme, “The Tax Administration of the Future: Modernization and Reform for the Next Decade,” Mr. Tapsoba joined senior tax and development leaders from the Rwanda Revenue Authority, the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), the United Nations, IBFD, and other international institutions to examine how technology, digitalization, and innovation are reshaping tax administration globally and across Africa.
During the discussion, Mr. Tapsoba noted that tax administrations across West Africa have made significant progress in adopting digital technologies aimed at improving taxpayer services, increasing compliance, reducing leakages, and expanding the tax base.
He cited reforms undertaken by several WATAF member administrations, including integrated tax administration systems, electronic VAT platforms, digital dispute resolution mechanisms, electronic invoicing systems, and enhanced online taxpayer services.
According to the Executive Secretary, while progress varies among countries, the overall direction is clear: tax administrations across West Africa are increasingly embracing digital solutions to improve efficiency, transparency, and service delivery.
He emphasized that WATAF’s role extends beyond observing these developments. Through training programmes, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, knowledge-sharing platforms, research, and strategic partnerships, WATAF is actively supporting member administrations in building the skills, systems, and institutional capacities required to respond to emerging technological and fiscal challenges.
The Executive Secretary also highlighted ongoing efforts by several countries in the region to address the taxation of the digital economy. He noted that countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Senegal have introduced reforms to tax digital services and online economic activities, ensuring that governments can effectively mobilize revenue in an increasingly digitalized global economy.
He further disclosed that WATAF, in collaboration with the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), is exploring support for the development of regional tools, guides, or applications to better tax the digital economy and facilitate the exchange of information between tax and customs administrations.
Mr. Tapsoba stressed that while technology offers tremendous opportunities, it also presents new challenges that require continuous investment in human capital, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation. He reaffirmed WATAF’s commitment to helping member countries navigate these changes through targeted capacity-building initiatives and strategic collaborations.
Meanwhile, during the symposium, Executive Secretary Tapsoba was honored with a plaque in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening tax administrations across West Africa and advancing domestic revenue mobilization in the region.
The award also acknowledged WATAF’s active participation in international, regional, and multilateral discussions on taxation, tax administration reforms, and domestic revenue mobilization, while reflecting the Forum’s increasing visibility and influence as a leading regional platform for cooperation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and tax administration modernization in West Africa.
Receiving the recognition, Mr. Tapsoba dedicated the honor to WATAF’s member tax administrations, partners, and stakeholders whose collective efforts continue to advance tax administration reforms and domestic resource mobilization across the region.
The participation of WATAF in the symposium aligns with the Forum’s mandate to strengthen tax administration across West Africa through cooperation, knowledge sharing, capacity development, and institutional reforms. As tax administrations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence, digital platforms, data analytics, and automated compliance systems, WATAF continues to position itself as a key regional partner supporting member countries in adapting to the rapidly evolving tax landscape and building future-ready revenue institutions.
The Africa Tax Symposium is widely regarded as one of the continent’s leading platforms for discussing international taxation and tax administration issues. The 2026 edition explored themes including digitalization, artificial intelligence, transfer pricing, international tax developments, global tax governance, trade and investment, and the future of tax administration in Africa.
About WATAF
The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) is a regional body that brings together tax administrations across West Africa to strengthen domestic resource mobilization through cooperation, capacity development, and knowledge sharing. WATAF plays a leading role in shaping regional tax policy dialogue and supporting the modernization and harmonization of tax systems in line with regional and international standards.
