By Nana Musa
The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), said that the audit interventions generated 907.8 million dollars in tax assessments across member countries in 2025.
ATAF disclosed this in its 2025 annual report, recently released to highlight progress in strengthening Africa’s tax systems and domestic revenue mobilisation.
The report stated that the 685.8 million dollars of the assessed revenue was successfully collected by member countries during the period.
According to the report, the revenue gains included 47.1 million dollars from transfer pricing audits and 3.57 million dollars from digital services tax interventions.
The report said that the cross-border Value Added Tax compliance measures generated additional revenue of 142.96 million dollars across participating countries.
ATAF said it provided technical assistance to 35 countries and trained 2,433 tax officials from 43 countries, including Nigeria.
The organisation said its support covered legislative reforms, administrative restructuring and capacity building initiatives aimed at improving tax administration systems.
ATAF said that the additional revenue was helping governments strengthen public finances and reduce dependence on borrowing for development financing.
The organisation said that the funds were supporting investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and other critical public services across Africa.
The report highlighted progress in capacity building, technical assistance, digital transformation and international tax cooperation during the year under review.
ATAF also stressed its expanding role in global tax policy discussions affecting developing economies and African fiscal interests.
The organisation said they participated in engagements on the United Nations framework convention on international tax cooperation and global tax transparency initiatives.
The report added that the discussions also covered illicit financial flows, digital taxation and cross-border tax cooperation involving African economies.
According to the report, ATAF interventions supported revisions of transfer pricing laws in several African countries.
It said that the reforms were designed to ensure multinational corporations pay fair taxes where economic activities occur.
ATAF also disclosed that member countries received support in introducing anti-tax avoidance measures to block aggressive tax planning schemes.
The organisation said it had helped establish dedicated transfer pricing units within tax administrations to improve monitoring of multinational companies.
According to the report, ATAF also supported the creation of exchange-of-information units to strengthen investigations into tax evasion and illicit financial flows.
The report stated that ATAF was improving its governance structures, financial management systems and operational processes.
It added that the organisation was reviewing membership fee systems while strengthening partnerships with donor agencies and development partners.
ATAF said that the financial sustainability had become increasingly important amid rising demand for technical support on complex international tax matters.
The organisation identified carbon taxation and climate-related tax measures among emerging policy areas shaping future tax systems globally.
It said it was studying carbon border adjustment mechanisms and their potential implications for African exports and trade competitiveness.
ATAF also disclosed the increased focus on digital economy taxation as commercial activities continue shifting online.
The report added that the organisation was promoting gender-inclusive tax systems to improve fairness and protect vulnerable groups.
ATAF further stated that it was supporting frameworks for taxing high-net-worth individuals to widen the tax base and improve equity.
The organisation said it was encouraging the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven compliance systems to strengthen taxpayer monitoring and revenue collection efficiency.
ATAF maintained that stronger tax systems remained essential for reducing Africa’s dependence on foreign borrowing and external financial support.
The report stressed that efficient tax administration would support inclusive economic growth and strengthen resilient African economies.
The ATAF Executive Secretary, Mary Baine, described domestic resource mobilisation as critical to Africa’s economic resilience and sustainable development.
“Domestic resource mobilisation is no longer optional for Africa,” she said while commenting on the report’s release.
Baine said that the stronger tax systems were necessary to modernise revenue administration and build fiscally sustainable African states.
She said that the ATAF would continue supporting reforms aimed at improving development financing and strengthening tax administration systems across member countries.
