News

On 11–12 March 2026, IOTA organised the Digital Workshop on the Use of Alternative Payment Systems in Cross-Border VAT Fraud Schemes, bringing together over 300 tax officials, data analysts, and technical specialists from IOTA member administrations to explore emerging fraud risks linked to alternative payment systems (APS).  It was a great honour to have representatives from the IOTA international partner organisations, such as the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and EUROPOL.

On 4 March 2026, IOTA organised the first digital event of the year, the ‘Webinar on the Use of VITARA for L&D/HR Professionals,’ listed in the IOTA 2026 Work Programme Calendar, which brought together over 170 experts and practitioners from the IOTA membership and beyond to explore how digital learning solutions can enhance capacity building in tax administrations.

The Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira, AT) is pleased to announce that the latest issue of the Portuguese journal called “Ciência e Técnica Fiscal” (CTF) is now available online. This issue results from the work of authors from the Centre for Tax and Customs Studies (CEF) of Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority (AT), along with other contributors, notably from academia, who focus on important and current tax and customs issues.

 IOTA is pleased to announce that all twenty-two VITARA modules, including the newest on Payment and Debt Management, are now available for registration. Registration is through the IMF training platform. The modules will be accessible until April 15, 2026, and the registration deadline is April 1, 2026. 

Dear Colleagues, IOTA Members, and Partners,

As we begin the new year, I would like to reflect on IOTA’s achievements over the past year and consider the challenges ahead in 2026.

As the festive season and the final days of 2025 draw near, our thoughts gratefully go to all IOTA member tax officials who have contributed to our success and supported our organisation throughout 2025.

On 10-11 December 2025, IOTA successfully concluded the final event under its 2025 Work Programme Activities with the Digital Workshop on the ‘Practical Application of Double Taxation Avoidance Conventions (DTACs): Tax Residency Issues’, broadcast live via MS Teams.

From November 26 to 27, 2025, IOTA had the pleasure of organising the IOTA Digital Forum on the Use of Data from the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), as one of the online events in the IOTA 2025 Work Programme Activities Calendar. This two-day event attracted more than 230 participants from 34 IOTA member tax administrations and was streamed live on MS Teams.

On 3–4 December 2025, IOTA successfully conducted its Digital Workshop on Using AI Solutions to Detect Tax Evasion. Organised under the IOTA 2025 Work Programme Activities, the two-day virtual event brought together over 250 tax administration officials, data specialists, and technical experts from across the IOTA membership to examine emerging applications of artificial intelligence in the detection and mitigation of tax evasion. The event was broadcast live via MS Teams.

IOTA is pleased to announce its latest publication, the IOTA Report on the Use of Alternative Payment Systems in Cross-Border VAT Fraud Schemes, created by a dedicated Subgroup within the IOTA Forum on Combating VAT Fraud. The Report was successfully finalised in November 2025.

For the first time in IOTA's history, the Day of Excellence in Taxation was celebrated among the membership at the end of October—a new initiative recognising outstanding professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in international taxation. During this inaugural event, IOTA members from Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, and Slovakia participated in the newly established tradition.

IOTA is pleased to introduce the latest VITARA online module, 'Payment and Debt Management,' now the 22nd module in the portfolio, with thirteen modules available in English. Initially, government officials will have access for three weeks, from December 3 to December 24, 2025. Registration must be completed by December 16, 2025, through the IMF training platform. The module will be available again in early 2026.