REGIONAL TAX ADMINISTRATORS TO MEET IN GUYANA

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat will convene a Regional Seminar on the Administration of the Intra-CARICOM Double Taxation Agreement, (ICDTA) from 30 November to 1 December 2009 in Georgetown, Guyana.

Targeted at Heads of Tax Administrations and other officials in Tax Authorities across the Region, the Seminar is intended to provide an opportunity to review the administration and application of the Agreement.

The Intra-CARICOM Double Taxation Agreement is an accord among the Governments of the Member States of the Caribbean Community for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, Profits or Gains and Capital Gains and for the Encouragement of Regional Trade and Investment.

Beginning on Monday, the seminar will address issues related to differences in interpretation of provisions of the Agreement as well as the modalities for the activation of a clause pertaining to the Exchange of Information.

Further, participants will review a draft of the Technical Explanations which would underpin the interpretation of the provisions of the Treaty. The Technical Explanations are expected to set out the rationale for prevailing principles and policy objectives of the Agreement.

Key elements for the administration of the ICDTA will also be discussed, including instruments to support the administration of the Agreement, and the role and functions of Designated Competent Authorities. There will also be an exchange of views on the experience in administering the ICDTA, so far.

The Regional Seminar will be held at the Grand Coastal Inn, Le Resouvenir, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.