The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr. Jules Tapsoba, has disclosed that the Forum was exploring ways to better tax the digital economy and facilitate the exchange of information between tax and customs administrations.
Speaking as a panelist at the 11th Africa Tax Symposium held in Rabat, Morocco, Mr. Tapsoba said the WATAF was working in collaboration with the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) to achieve the set goal.
He highlighted ongoing efforts by countries in the region, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Senegal to tax digital services and online economic activities, ensuring that governments can effectively mobilize revenue in an increasingly digitalized global economy.
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 him, 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.
The Executive Secretary also 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.
Beyond these developments, he said WATAF through training programmes, technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, knowledge-sharing platforms, research, and strategic partnerships, is actively supporting member administrations in building the skills, systems, and institutional capacities required to respond to emerging technological and fiscal challenges.
“While technology offers tremendous opportunities, it also presents new challenges that require continuous investment in human capital, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation,” Mr. Tapsoba said. “WATAF’s commitment to helping member countries navigate these changes through targeted capacity-building initiatives and strategic collaborations.”
The WATAF boss said the Forum would continue 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.
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.
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.
