Finance Minister: Georgia “always been leader” in digital tax services

Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Wednesday told the General Assembly of the Intra-European Organisation of Tax Administrations the Georgian tax administration had “always been a leader” in offering tax services in digital format.

The Ministry cited Khutsishvili as telling participants of the 27th edition of the gathering the country had “never stopped” reforming its tax system.

The Government strategy for 2012-2024 for simplifying taxpayer services envisages the introduction of digital and modern technological solutions. In this way, we consider digitisation not only as a mechanism for offering new services and simplifying taxpayers` compliance with the law, but also as a necessary tool for preventing tax evasion, which ensures an equal and competitive business environment”, he said.

Khutsishvili also told the Assembly about steps taken by his Government to approximate the country’s tax sector to international standards.

In 2016 we were one of the first to join the Inclusive Platform as an associate member and undertake the implementation of the obligations stipulated by the Tax Base Reduction and Prevention of Profit Shifting project. At the same time, Georgia was elected as a member of the Platform Management Group and was actively involved in the process of developing the international tax policy framework", he told the event.

Khutsishvili told the Assembly, which was hosted in Tbilisi, that he hoped to see a “further develop[ment]” of the capabilities of national tax administrations through joint efforts.