Building a positive relationship with taxpayers: Five minutes with Georgia’s head of tax policy
In this interview, Marine Khurtsidze, head of the Tax and Customs Policy Department in Georgia’s Ministry of Finance, shares her career advice and what she has learned from her tax peers overseas.
This is part of a ‘Five minutes’ series featuring participants from this week’s Global Government Finance Summit in Dublin (5-6 June).
What are you most interested in discussing at the Global Government Finance Summit 2024?
Topics related to making tax less taxing.
What have you achieved in your career that you’re most proud of?
Personal recognition in the international tax area.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your working life?
Always lead by example.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the civil service?
To be passionate about being a civil servant and have a belief that what you are doing is for a better future of your country.
What do you like most about working in the civil service?
Having a mandate to carry out reforms which affect your country.
Which country’s civil service or which government department or agency are you most inspired by and why?
A visit to the Dutch tax academy was inspiring for me. I learned valuable lessons about how their tax administration (Belastingdienst) is building positive cooperation with taxpayers. The motto of the Dutch tax administration is the following: ‘Belastingdienst respects taxpayers’ desire not to pay taxes’.
They are assisting taxpayers in fulfilling their tax obligations through in-depth engagement with taxpayers, building dialogue with them.
Friendly approaches are very efficient at achieving a positive attitude and compliance among taxpayers. It is essential that tax administrators provide information, such as rulings, regulations, decisions, and other notifications. Therefore, it was a very valuable lesson for me to be implemented in my country.
Read more: Advancing homegrown AI: Five minutes with Mihai Cuza from Romania’s Ministry of Finance
Are there any projects or innovations in your country that might be valuable to your peers overseas?
Reforms and initiatives that have been taken during the digital transformation of the tax administration of Georgia.
What attributes do you most value in people?
Good personality, a sense of humour and the capability of being honest.
What’s your favourite thing to do at the weekends?
Spending time with my daughter and doing anything she wants to.
What is your dream holiday destination?
Egypt.
What was your first car?
Mercedes.
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