Summary
- ATAF’s 2025 Annual Report, released on 22 May 2026, shows USD 907.8 million in tax assessments generated through ATAF-supported audit interventions across member countries, of which USD 685.8 million was successfully collected — including USD 142.96 million from cross-border VAT compliance measures and USD 3.57 million from digital services tax. [von.gov.ng], [ataftax.org]
- ATAF expanded its capacity building significantly in 2025, providing technical assistance to 35 countries and training 2,433 tax officials from 43 countries. Support covered legislative reform, digital transformation, transfer pricing, excise taxation and — critically — the introduction or strengthening of VAT on digital services across multiple African jurisdictions. [ataftax.org], [thecooperator.news]
- ATAF is playing an increasingly visible role in global tax policy, advocating African interests in the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and in broader discussions on digital taxation, illicit financial flows and tax transparency — ensuring the continent’s voice is heard as digital tax frameworks evolve worldwide. [ataftax.org], [newsfocusng.com]
Article
On 22 May 2026, the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) released its 2025 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive account of the organisation’s growing contribution to strengthening tax systems, advancing domestic revenue mobilisation and amplifying Africa’s voice in global tax policy. [ataftax.org]
Revenue Impact: The Numbers
ATAF-supported audit interventions across member countries generated USD 907.8 million in tax assessments in 2025, of which USD 685.8 million was successfully collected. The breakdown includes: [von.gov.ng], [dailyasset.ng]
| Category | Amount (USD) |
| Total tax assessments | 907.8 million |
| Total collections | 685.8 million |
| Transfer pricing audits | 47.1 million |
| Cross-border VAT compliance | 142.96 million |
| Digital services tax | 3.57 million |
ATAF noted that this additional revenue is helping African governments strengthen public finances and improve their capacity to fund infrastructure, healthcare, education and other development priorities — reducing dependence on external borrowing. [dailyasset.ng]
Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
Throughout 2025, ATAF: [ataftax.org], [thecooperator.news]
- Provided technical assistance to 35 countries
- Trained 2,433 tax officials from 43 countries
- Supported legislative and administrative reforms across the continent
Country-specific examples illustrate the practical impact:
- Botswana amended its VAT legislation to tax remote digital services, supported by ATAF’s VAT Digital Toolkit and capacity-building sessions. Botswana is also preparing to introduce e-invoicing in 2026, informed by benchmarking with Rwanda and Tanzania. [thecooperator.news]
- The Gambia strengthened audit capacity through ATAF’s three-phased audit training (basic, intermediate, advanced), delivered by African experts. [thecooperator.news]
- Uganda trained over 500 officers on digital tax stamps using ATAF training materials. [thecooperator.news]
- Rwanda amended excise tax legislation in July 2025 in line with ATAF recommendations. [thecooperator.news]
- Ghana is enforcing track-and-trace verification of tax stamps on tobacco imports and increasing monitoring of electronic cigarettes following ATAF training. [thecooperator.news]
Digital Tax Measures: A Key Focus
The taxation of digital services continues to be a priority across Africa. ATAF’s work in this area includes support for: [von.gov.ng], [thecooperator.news]
- VAT on digital services — helping countries introduce or strengthen legislation to tax remote/digital services supplied by non-resident providers
- Cross-border VAT compliance — which generated USD 142.96 million in revenue in 2025
- Digital transformation of tax administration systems, including e-invoicing readiness
ATAF’s VAT Digital Toolkit for Africa, developed in partnership with the OECD and the World Bank, remains a key resource for countries designing or refining their approach. [documents1…ldbank.org]
Africa’s Voice in Global Tax Policy
The report highlights ATAF’s expanding role in shaping global tax discourse, particularly through: [ataftax.org], [newsfocusng.com]
- Engagement with the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation
- Advocacy in discussions on illicit financial flows, digital taxation and tax transparency
- Ensuring African perspectives are reflected in international tax policy processes
ATAF Executive Secretary Mary Baine underlined the urgency:
“Domestic Resource Mobilisation is no longer optional for Africa; it is the foundation for sustainable development, economic resilience, and fiscal sovereignty. As external financing declines and fiscal pressures intensify, African countries must strengthen tax systems, modernise revenue administration, and build fiscally resourced states that finance development with integrity, effectiveness, and measurable results.” [ataftax.org]
Relevance for Multinational Businesses
For businesses operating across Africa, the report signals a clear direction: African tax administrations are becoming more capable, better connected and increasingly focused on digital tax compliance. Companies should expect:
- More rigorous enforcement of VAT on digital services and cross-border transactions
- Growing e-invoicing requirements in additional African jurisdictions
- Closer international cooperation on transfer pricing and tax transparency
🔗 Key Links
- ATAF 2025 Annual Report (full report) [ataftax.org]
- ATAF Press Release — 2025 Annual Report [ataftax.org]
- The Cooperator — ATAF Releases Major Report [thecooperator.news]
- Voice of Nigeria — ATAF Records $907.8m in Tax Assessments [von.gov.ng]
- VAT Digital Toolkit for Africa (OECD/WBG/ATAF) [documents1…ldbank.org]
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