In order to promote the development of intelligence practices for detecting and fighting tax fraud, the European Commission in partnership with CIAT, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Panama and the Guardia di Finanza from Italy held in Panama City an International Seminar-workshop last August 29 to 31.

CIAT, with the support of its member countries, has accumulated over the years a vast experience in the Tax intelligence field. A proof of this is CIAT Manual on Tax Intelligence published in 2006, which was drafted in the framework of a working group coordinated by the CIAT Executive Secretariat, including experts from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, United States, France and the Netherlands; and seminars and workshops held in Ecuador and Brazil in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

For several years, the European Commission has also been funding tax programs in Latin America. This activity was a result of EC-CIAT Partnership Program announced at the Technical Conference held in Portugal.

The Guardia di Finanza from Italy, governing authority regarding tax intelligence practices and the seminar technical co-organizer, opened this month a permanent mission at the CIAT Executive Secretariat in Panama in order to convey their experiences to tax administrations of our member countries. This entity, together with CIAT organized in 2011 a visit to their headquarters in Rome, attended by many representatives from Latin American countries.

As a result of that event, Latin American countries tax administrations submitted to CIAT the need for discussion and exchange of experiences areas with legal, administrative structures and procedures allowing identifying best practices to promote future mutual technical assistance.

At this international seminar, participants were officials from 23 tax administrations from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa, in charge of tax intelligence actions or research tasks about complex operations with criminal profile in their respective administrations.

The event was inaugurated by CIAT Director of International Tax Cooperation, Mr. Gonzalo Arias with the participation of Cooperation Projects Manager for the European Union Office in Panama, Mr. Eric Dejoie; the Italian Ambassador in Panama, Mr. Giancarlo Curcio and the Deputy Director of the Revenue Department (DGI) of Panama, Mrs. Xiomara de Garrido. At the event were also present distinguished representatives from Embassies of the European Union member countries in Panama, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Specialized University for Certified Public Accountants from Panama.

Speakers included experts from tax administrations of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, France, Italy, Kenya, Mexico and Venezuela. Distinguished officials from the tax administrations of member countries such as Aruba, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay participated. Special guests from COTA member’s countries: British Virgin Islands and Saint Lucia also attended.

Finally, Mr Stefano Gesuelli , Lieutenant Colonel of the Guardia di Finanza; Mr. Márcio Verdi, CIAT Executive Secretary; and Mrs. Xiomara de Garrido , Assistant Director of the DGI from Panama, closed the event.

See: Presentatios agenda

Main table during the opening session: from left to right: Mr. Gonzalo Arias, CIAT Cooperation and International Tax Director; Mr. Giancarlo Curcio, Ambassador from Italy in Panama; Mr. Eric Dejoie, Administrator of the European Union Cooperation Projects Offices in Panama; and Mrs. Xiomara de Garrido, Sub-Director of the Income General Directorate (DGI) of Panama.		At the closing of the International Tax Intelligence Seminar: From left to right: Mrs. Xiomara de Garrido, Panama DGI Sub-Director; Mr. Marcio Verdi, CIAT Executive Secretary; and Lt. Col. Stefano Gesuelli, Head of the Italian Mission to CIAT.
General view of the participants to the International Tax Intelligence Seminar.		Mr. Marcio Verdi, CIAT Executive Secretary, addresses the participants of the event.