A robust and sustainable tax system requires good tax administration. This report compares the administrative frameworks, functions, and performances of tax administration bodies in 22 jurisdictions in Asia and the Pacific. The descriptive analysis is based on surveys of tax administration conducted in 2012 and 2013. The surveys attempt to provide internationally comparable data on aspects of the sample jurisdictions' tax systems and their administration. Tentative conclusions emerge from the descriptive and comparative analysis.

Assessing how Asia and the Pacific can benefit from stronger tax systems, this comparative analysis drills down into the set-ups and performance of revenue bodies in 41 economies to highlight reform challenges and outline opportunities. Drawing on the results of the International Survey on Revenue Administration (ISORA 2022) survey, it provides background on each economy, details the performance of their revenue bodies, and looks at growing digitalization. The seventh edition in the series, it outlines major trends and sets out ways governments and officials can reform their revenue bodies to build more effective and efficient tax systems.

For ADB members in Asia and the Pacific, stronger tax systems are now more important than ever—to boost revenues enabling recovery from the economic shocks of COVID-19, and to reinforce implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. Using comparative data up to the fiscal year 2020, and drawing from the International Survey on Revenue Administration (ISORA 2021), this sixth edition in our series analyzes the administrative setups and performance of revenue bodies in 40 economies across the region—to help governments and officials identify promising options for building more efficient, inclusive tax systems.

This comparative analysis report, the second in a series, is part of ADB’s regional research and development project on tax administration that analyzes the administrative frameworks, functions, and performance of 21 economies in Asia and the Pacific. The initial version of this report was published in 2014. The primary objective of the series is to motivate governments and revenue officials by sharing knowledge of important developments and trends in tax administration practice and performance, and to identify opportunities to enhance the operation of their tax systems.

The International Survey on Revenue Administration (ISORA) collects tax administration data from national or federal tax administrations. It surveys tax administration operations and other characteristics based on common questions and definitions agreed by four international organizations: the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Intra-European Organisation of Tax Administrations (IOTA), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These four Parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the administration and management of this worldwide survey. This publication presents the results of the International Survey on Revenue Administration (ISORA) 2018, encompassing responses from 159 national or federal tax administrations spanning profile information, performance, and practices in fiscal years 2018 and 2019. For ISORA 2018, the ISORA Parties partnered with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide assistance to its members who were participating in the survey.

Revenue Statistics in Asian and Pacific Economies is jointly produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration (CTP) and the OECD Development Centre (DEV) with the co-operation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Pacific Island Tax Administrators Association (PITAA), and the Pacific Community (SPC) and the financial support of the European Union and the government of Japan.

Revenue Administration Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and management of tax and customs administrations, covering topics such as tax policy design considerations that impact tax administration, institutional setup and strategic planning, analyticalcapacities and maturity models, core business processes, and tax sanctions. It also presents pioneering work in the field of digital transformation and how to build data science capabilities, including a roadmap for policy makers and tax officials on how to incorporate and manage disruptive technologies, such as machine learning, into building modern revenue administrations while taking into account their respective maturity levels. This practical manual provides examples from real-life World Bank projects so that policy makers, tax officials, information technology experts, and information and communication technology providers can better understand the needs of revenue administrations to design and implement the most appropriate technology solutions. This reference work is intended to serve as a tool to facilitate the progress and modernization of tax and customs administrations worldwide, and to reach not only tax experts and policy makers, but also other government officials, businesses and academic communities, as well as the larger public, since all are relevant stakeholders with an active role in day-to-day revenue administration operations. ------------------------- “This is a very timely and useful reference for tax practitioners and stakeholders, coming at a time when tax administrators continue to grapple with the challenge of how to accelerate the modernization of technology systems to remain effective in a rapidly advancing and technologydriven business environment.†? MOSES WASIKE, Senior financial management specialist, World Bank “This is an impressive piece of work that pulls together many different strains on tax administration.†? JEFFREY OWENS, Director, Global Tax Policy Center, Vienna University “Applying several technologies discussed in this handbook in an innovative manner will definitely help leapfrog countries to pursue a digital transformation agenda, especially in the areas of efficiency, productivity, and citizen satisfaction.†?

This report shows why Southeast Asian countries need to consider tax reforms after many struggled to finance massive public expenditure programs to combat COVID-19. The second in a four-part series, the report considers the impact of COVID-19 on Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand to lay out steps policymakers can take to create healthier fiscal spaces. It illustrates challenges faced around informality, tax collection, compliance, and progressivity. It emphasizes how preventing fraud, taxing wealth, and introducing environmental levies can help reduce poverty, tackle inequality, and contribute toward more sustainable growth. It is therefore crucial to understand the required policy responses as well as potential technologies that could help expand the tax base, increase tax compliance, and ease the process of paying taxes.

The Survey 2014 will examine the regions challenges to support its economic growth and to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Part I of the report will focus on the regions outlook as it contends with the ongoing global recovery and assesses the regions policy response to remaining and emerging vulnerabilities. A special theme is domestic resource mobilization in Asia-Pacific, which will explore the challenges on strengthening tax revenues. Part II of the report discusses strategic approaches to strengthen regional connectivity to achieve shared prosperity.