Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Taxation Academy organized by the Training Institute, Ministry of Finance (MOFTI) has not been able to invite foreign tax officials for exchange and training in Taiwan for the past three years. However, in order to continue strengthening the knowledge of international tax trends and information among colleagues at the Ministry of Finance, the Institute has overcome difficulties by inviting domestic scholars and experts to conduct the entire program in English or inviting foreign lecturers to deliver courses through video conferencing.

Now, as the pandemic situation has improved in 2023 and various restrictions have been lifted, the MOFTI has resumed and expanded the 39th International Taxation Academy, inviting foreign lecturers to conduct in-person classes in Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also helped to invite tax officials from friendly countries to participate in the training. This year, we have successfully invited two American lecturers, Prof. Edward Weite Hsieh and Ms. Kate Kerrigan, along with nine foreign participants from Belize, Paraguay, Germany, Georgia, South Korea, Palau, and Thailand. There are also nearly fifty domestic officials from The Department of International Fiscal Affairs, Department of Planning, Taxation Administration, Customs Administration, Fiscal Information Agency, five National Taxation Bureaus, Taipei City Revenue Service, Department of Taxation, Taoyuan, Local Tax Bureau of Taichung City Government, Finance and Local Tax Bureau, Tainan City.

The training program will run for two weeks, from August 21st to September 1st. In the first week, Prof. Hsieh, who holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Houston and is Professor Emeritus of Economics at California State University, Los Angeles, will discuss the "Economic and Fiscal Challenges in the Post-Pandemic Era." In the second week, Kate Kerrigan, a tax attorney working at the Office of the Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States, will focus on "Transfer Pricing: Now and A Look into the Global Future."

Since its establishment in 1984, the International Taxation Academy has continuously strived to enhance the professional knowledge of tax officers, and cultivate international tax talents in Taiwan. After 39 years, the academy continues to provide a platform for domestic and international participants to share tax experiences, promote international exchanges, and create opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

Contact Information: Chang Wan-Ju, Training Institute, Ministry of Finance

Tel: 02-8663-2399#205