Mariam Abeeb
The West African Tax Administration Forum , WATAF has called for the accelerated digitalization of Value Added Tax (VAT) systems across West Africa, warning that inefficiencies in existing frameworks continue to weaken revenue mobilization and slow economic growth.
The call was made during a high-level regional forum held in Abidjan, and organized by the African Development Bank.
The meeting convened tax administrators, policymakers, and development partners to assess reforms and share best practices in VAT administration.
Speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of WATAF, Jules Tapsoba, described digital transformation as a critical tool for improving compliance, curbing fraud, and strengthening efficiency across tax systems in the region.
Tapsoba stressed that VAT remains a major source of domestic revenue for many West African economies but noted that structural challenges continue to limit its full potential and effectiveness.
He identified key obstacles including a large informal sector, weak tax culture, limited digital infrastructure, and poor coordination between customs and domestic tax authorities, all of which contribute to revenue leakages and inefficiencies.
According to him, ongoing reforms such as online taxpayer registration, electronic invoicing, and automated tax filing and payment systems are already yielding positive results in some countries, but require broader and more coordinated implementation.
Also speaking, Chief Governance Officer at AfDB, Eline Okudzeto, highlighted lessons from East Africa, noting that while progress has been made, challenges persist in compliance, coordination, and system integration.
Other stakeholders, including Emeka Nwankwo of the African Tax Administration Forum, Abou Ouattara Sié, and Darlingston Yahkor Talery of the Economic Community of West African States, underscored the importance of strengthening VAT systems to enhance domestic revenue mobilization.
Tapsoba further urged member states to align their VAT frameworks with the ECOWAS directive on VAT harmonization adopted in July 2023, ahead of the January 2027 deadline, to support regional integration and fair competition.
He also outlined additional measures to improve VAT performance, including modernizing refund systems, strengthening audit and verification processes, improving customs valuation, and building robust data systems for evidence-based policymaking.
WATAF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting member states through technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, while urging governments and development partners to move from policy discussions to concrete implementation.
