The main objectives of this contest are:

• Identify and recognize innovative good practices that promote transparency and integrity, efficiency and effectiveness in tax administration.
• Disseminate successful innovation.
• Generate synergic exchanges of successful experiences.

Entries were received from 9 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela). See links “read more” for the PDF format presentations.

During the 43rd General Assembly held in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, prizes were presented for the 1st edition of the Innovation in Tax Administration Awards Program, recognizing the accomplishments of the following countries in the respective award categories:

1. Integrity and Transparency
Argentina’s presentation on “My Contributions System” which consists of a Web application that allows workers to obtain information on withholding payments made by the employer-taxpayer related to all components of resources of social security. Besides being a tool that promotes integrity and transparency, it is also an excellent support mechanism for the tax control of social security taxes, and also offers very important potential in terms of implementation for other taxes subject to withholding at the source.

2. Efficiency
In this category, Mexico presented a broad and sophisticated practice called “Integrated Solution for Tax Administration Service of Mexico.” It is a complex system that provides services that facilitate compliance with tax obligations in an integrated manner; it considers factors relating to the tax law and regulations, processes, organization, information and technology.

3. Effectiveness
Italy introduced a highly innovative and important program called “Procedure for the audit of banks and financial operations.” It is a powerful tool for monitoring and controlling banks and other financial operators, which are required by law to submit monthly information on-line to the tax authority on contracts and contractors, regardless of any audits, with sanctioned for omissions and errors in the transmission of the information. In addition to improving the effectiveness of tax examinations, the program has reduced administrative costs.

The 2nd edition of the contest will open July 1, 2009 and prizes will be awarded during the CIAT 44th General Assembly in 2010.