Since its inception in 2009, The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has collaborated with member countries to ensure the continuous support and upskilling of the tax authorities on the continent. This effort has led to $5.1 Billion in new tax assessments and a staggering $2.11 Billion in collections for the member countries. In the last year alone, ATAF-backed Assessments helped African Nations Identify $384.98 Million in taxes due.
Through the strategic approaches that offered how resourcefulness, local solutions, and strategic vision have amplified tax administration across Africa. The bulk of this work is done through the support of donors and funders.
ATAF runs various programmes that empower the member countries in their admin and collection efforts. With over 15,000 officials trained and having been the catalyzers of Billions of dollars in collection and technical assistance delivered annually to more than 35 countries, we’re witnessing a quiet revolution. But behind these numbers is something even more powerful — trust. “Building trust through effective communication is fundamental to encouraging voluntary compliance,” said ATAF officials.
In the heart of Morocco, artisans craft instruments out of wood, steel, and bone — creating music that stirs the soul. There are no grand orchestras. No imported violins. Just creativity and commitment.
This is the same spirit that fuels ATAF: building extraordinary systems from the ground up transforming fiscal futures with homegrown solutions.
Tax, Trust, and Transformation
Over the last 15 years, ATAF has grown from an idea into a continental force. In the first quarter of 2025 only, ATAF hosted over 120 tax officials from 16 African countries for training on VAT fraud, Tax investigation, and Scientific approaches in tax administration. In the same quarter, 27 technical missions were completed across 13 countries, including Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Benin, Kenya and Botswana, helping drive tax policy and administration reforms. These efforts led to over USD14.3 million in new tax assessments and additional collections of USD27 million.
The Power of African Design
In a world grappling with inequality and unsustainable debt, Africa offers something unique: resilience. From Zambia’s digital economy tax unit to Benin’s transfer pricing enforcement, ATAF has enabled effective and contextually intelligent reforms. Benin’s tax auditors are now better equipped to analyze intra-group transactions and evaluate transfer pricing documentation.
“Now we have a better understanding of the arm’s length principle and know how to analyze contracts between related entities,” said Ms Balaro, a participant in one of ATAF’s training conducted in Benin. “This training has really improved the way we carry out complex tax audits.” She affirmed.
ATAF and its members’ success is not because they copied global frameworks but because they redesigned them for Africa. With ATAF’s guidance, countries are launching mobile tax clinics, automating audits, and implementing VAT policies that reflect the informal economies they regulate.
Another area of notable progress has been research and analysis. With ATAF’s guidance, Mauritius Revenue Authority officers have begun producing higher-quality research papers using advanced tools. These papers now inform decision-making on revenue strategies, forecasting, and sector-specific compliance. The shift towards evidence-based tax policy has elevated Mauritius’ role in sharing knowledge with peer countries in the region.
As ATAF marks 15 years of impact, its journey reflects more than numbers. It tells the story of a continent reclaiming its narrative through innovation, resilience, and collaboration. From policy reforms to digital breakthroughs, inclusive networks to local ingenuity, Africa’s tax future is being written in its own bold, resourceful hand. And that, truly, is the symphony.
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