OECD Forum on Tax Administration: Business at OECD Hosts First-of-a-Kind Side Event

Our Business at OECD Tax Committee marked a milestone by organising its first-of-a-kind side event to the OECD Forum on Tax Administration Plenary Meeting, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 17–21 November 2025. The event was under the theme “Tackling Tax Gaps and Reducing Burdens” and brought together over 50 tax administration top officials and local business representatives to address pressing global tax challenges.

Discussions at the Plenary focused on tax compliance, certainty, digital transformation, implementation of Pillar Two, and capacity building. Our Business at OECD side event aimed to foster dialogue between its Tax Committee members and leadership, and South African businesses on these critical issues. Opening remarks were delivered by South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter who emphasised the importance of stakeholder cooperation in strengthening tax administration. In context of the Commissioner’s opening remarks, Our Tax Committee Co-Chair Daniel Smith, and OECD Centre on Tax Administration Deputy Director Achim Pross, led an exchange with members and local business including from our Observer Organisation Business Unity South Africa, addressing practical issues related to tax gaps, digitalisation, and tax morale, reflecting the shared commitment to improving global tax systems.

Left to right: AB InBev's Justin Liebenberg and Gert Boulangé, our Tax Policy Consultant Aimee San Ramon, SARS' Commission Edward Kieswetter, our Tax Committee Co-Chair and Google's Daniel Smith, our Deputy Executive Director Nicole Primmer, AB InBev's Mariana Alter and Huawei's Daniele Troisi.

Left to right: Our Tax Committee Co-Chair and Google's Daniel Smith with the SARS' Commission Edward Kieswetter.

Left to right: Our Deputy Executive Director Nicole Primmer with our Tax Committee Co-Chair and Google's Daniel Smith at our side event.

It was also the first time, Business at OECD participated to the full OECD Forum on Tax Administration agenda, creating an unprecedented opportunity for engagement and relationship building with tax administration officials. This collaboration underscores the OECD Forum on Tax Administration’s role as a platform for dialogue among tax administrators, businesses, policymakers, and regulators to address challenges such as cross-border enforcement and evolving business models including digitalisation of tax systems, and pillar two compliance.