OREANDA-NEWS. The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Middle East Regional Technical Assistance Center (METAC) held a workshop on the recently launched Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool (TADAT) in Beirut, Lebanon from March 21–23, 2016. The workshop was held in association with the TADAT Secretariat in Washington, D.C. and was attended by 24 senior representatives of the Revenue and VAT Directorates of Lebanon.

The workshop provided a detailed introduction to the TADAT methodology, which has been developed by the IMF in conjunction with a range of development partner organizations, and provides a rigorous and objective method for reviewing current performance in tax administration against standardized definitions of international good practice. The outcome of a TADAT assessment provides a strategic framework for future development, investment, resource allocation and Technical Assistance (TA) support. It also sets a baseline for evaluating the future progress of a tax administration.

METAC is planning to support an independent TADAT assessment of the Revenue and VAT Directorates of Lebanon later in the year, and the delivery of this workshop is an important step in preparing the authorities to participate effectively in this exercise.

The lively discussion during the workshop indicated a high level of interest in the use of the TADAT approach. Delegates also had the opportunity to sit the TADAT assessors’ examination.