India’s BRICS tax chairship delivers new cooperation mechanisms, working groups
Two India-led working groups on international taxation and revenue statistics established; BRICS Tax Progress Report 2026 adopted
The meeting brought together heads of tax administrations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to exchange experiences and discuss emerging challenges in tax administration.
NEW DELHI: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities Meeting in New Delhi on September 23, marking the culmination of India’s BRICS Chairship of the tax cooperation track.
The meeting brought together heads of tax administrations from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to exchange experiences and discuss emerging challenges in tax administration.
In her address, Sitharaman identified technology, administration and people as the three recurring themes of BRICS tax cooperation during India’s chairship. She highlighted the role of data and digital infrastructure in making tax administration more precise and accessible, while stressing the need for institutional mechanisms that can sustain cooperation beyond individual BRICS chairships.
She also emphasised the importance of the BRICS economies’ perspectives in ongoing multilateral tax negotiations, including discussions on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
Two new India-led working groups
The meeting formally established two new working groups:
- Working Group on International Taxation and Transfer Pricing
- Working Group on Revenue Statistics
Both groups will be led by India and are intended to provide continuing institutional platforms for cooperation irrespective of the country holding the BRICS chairship.
The meeting also institutionalised the BRICS Young Tax Professionals Capacity Building Programme as an annual initiative. The first in-person programme was conducted at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur, in April 2026.
Another initiative, the BRICS Tax Cross-Learning Lab, was formally launched by integrating the work of the Client-Centric Administration and HR Practices Working Groups into a joint peer-learning platform.
The Terms of Reference of the BRICS Tax Support Network were also approved.
BRICS Tax Progress Report 2026 adopted
The meeting concluded with the formal signing of the BRICS Tax Progress Report 2026, documenting the work undertaken during India’s chairship of the BRICS tax cooperation track.
China was welcomed as the incoming chair of BRICS tax cooperation for 2027.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava, CBDT Chairman Ravi Agrawal, CBDT Member (Legislation) Prasenjit Singh, other CBDT members and senior officials of the Department of Revenue.
The heads of tax authorities also acknowledged India’s organisation of the meeting and its stewardship of the BRICS tax cooperation track.
