In order to have an equal voice on international taxation issues, India has urged the United Nations (UN) to provide a transparent platform for all member states. International taxation issue is perceived as ‘skewed’ in favour of those who make the rules. The counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Ashish Sinha highlighted that India has been of the view that the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters Committee should be upgraded into an intergovernmental body. He added that for more effective implementation of tax standards universal membership is essential.
Sinha also said that India believes that implementation of a truly universal agenda would need a platform where all countries have equal voice on the issues related to international taxation. In order to safeguard the interest of all its members, he said that UN can provide this platform for open, transparent and inclusive processes. He added that this would also strengthen the relationship between taxation and development by providing a voice to the developing countries and a balance between North and South.
Ashish Sinha further said that in order to meet the ambitious targets of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adequate means of implementation are required. He also said that tax revenue is the most important means for the developing countries for mobilizing domestic resources for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasingly globalised nature of business in today’s interconnected world requires tax policies with a perspective beyond national borders. More importantly, it requires international cooperation and strengthening of institutional arrangements.
