The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), in partnership with the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), delivered an Advanced Tax Audit Training Programme from 10–14 November 2025, equipping tax officials from across the continent with specialised skills to strengthen audit effectiveness in priority economic sectors. The five-day training brought together 94 participants from 16 ATAF member countries.
Designed to enhance the quality and consistency of tax audits, the programme provided in-depth learning on banking, telecommunications, mining, and international taxation—sectors central to domestic revenue mobilisation. Through a blend of technical presentations, case studies, group discussions, and a final online examination, participants engaged with both foundational frameworks and practical audit methodologies tailored to real-world challenges.
The training placed emphasis on improving audit planning, execution, and the use of evidence in complex cases. Participants worked through sector-specific audit risks and learned how to apply structured analytical approaches to identify revenue leakages, build audit arguments, and evaluate taxpayer information.
Breakout exercises allowed participants to apply these concepts directly, reinforcing learning through hands-on engagement. Key focus areas included:
• Banking sector audit techniques
• Telecommunications revenue and transfer pricing considerations
• Mining audit risks and verification procedures
• International taxation issues, including cross-border transactions and treaty interpretation
These sessions were delivered in both English and French, ensuring accessibility for participants across ATAF’s diverse membership. Lusophone officials were able to follow the English sessions due to bilingual proficiency.
The programme was jointly facilitated by ATAF experts from Eswatini, Uganda, Morocco and Rwanda, with additional support from ATAF Secretariat official Anna Holstein. The diverse facilitation team underscored ATAF’s commitment to peer-to-peer learning and the sharing of expertise among African tax administrations.
