The Pacific Islands Tax Administrators Association (PITAA) was represented at the 46th Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) Annual Heads Meeting and Technical Conference, held from 5 to 9 October 2026 at the Gran Meliá Hotel in Tanzania. PITAA’s Head of Secretariat, Mr Petero Maivucevuce, attended on behalf of the Association. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) hosted the conference for CATA.
Technology was at the heart of the discussions in Tanzania, where Commissioners General, Heads of Tax Administrations, Regional Tax Organisations and international partners gathered under the theme “Leveraging Technology for Efficient Revenue Collection”. The programme covered digital transformation in tax administration, including digital taxation, supporting small and medium enterprises through technology, transforming the informal sector, and trade facilitation. Sessions on tax morale, global cooperation on tax digitalisation, and the role of artificial intelligence in the future of revenue mobilisation rounded out the agenda.
PITAA’s participation centred on the General Assembly of the Network of Tax Organisations (NTO), which was convened alongside the conference on 7 October. The NTO brings together Regional Tax Organisations from around the world, and PITAA is one of its members. The Assembly marked the handover of the NTO Secretariat from the International Tax Compact (ITC) to the NTO’s members, and the signing of the updated NTO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU sets out how Regional Tax Organisations will collaborate, coordinate and engage collectively in the global tax landscape.
“This was a defining moment for the Network. With the Secretariat now in the hands of its members, regional organisations like PITAA have a greater voice and a greater responsibility in shaping how we work together. I was pleased to represent our Pacific members at the table as this new chapter began,” said Mr. Maivucevuce.
The Assembly also covered the launch of a new NTO website managed by its members, the Network’s workplan, an outlook on the next NTO technical conference, and arrangements for the election of the NTO Council for 2027–2029.
Beyond the Assembly, Mr Maivucevuce engaged with Commissioners, regional tax organisations and development partners on practical experience in digitalising tax administration. Pacific administrations, including Papua New Guinea and Samoa, contributed to the conference programme.
“Digital transformation is not a distant idea for Pacific tax administrations. It is about making compliance easier for taxpayers and strengthening our revenue base. Hearing first-hand from administrations that have walked this path, and sharing the Pacific experience in return, was exactly why regional and global networks matter,” added Mr. Maivucevuce.
The conference closed on 8 October with a final communiqué, followed by a cultural excursion on 9 October. PITAA will draw on the conference outcomes to inform its work with member administrations, and the Secretariat will continue to engage with the NTO and CATA as the Network’s new governance arrangements take shape.