Updated: Outcomes of AmCham 7th Regional Tax Conference
On March 6 AmCham Czech Republic held the 7th Regional Tax Conference followed by the Leadership Cocktail. Key issue of this year´s tax conference was crisis and its impact on reforms. Speakers agreed that the crisis in Europe has shone a bright light on the importance of tax. Not just rates are important, but the ability to collect taxes of any kind at any level is crucial. Tax system doesn´t work if the government is not able to persuade its citizens to pay their required share, and cant´t prevent corruption within the ranks of its tax collectors. Governments across Europe are being challenged by citizens about who pays and who benefits from their existing system.
Panelists' presentations are attached bellow.
Click here to read the press release (in English). Audio recordings are available for AmCham members and conference participants on request at registrations@amcham.cz.
View photos from the Conference and the Leadership Cocktail and a video.
Program of the conference:
9.00 Introduction
Weston Stacey, Executive Director, AmCham Czech Republic
9.05-9.25 Keynote speech
Douglas Brodman, Managing Director, Plzeňský Prazdroj, a.s.
9.30-11.00 Government Panel
Moderator: Peter Chrenko, Tax Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Czech Republic.
Ádám Balog, Deputy State Secretary for Taxation, Ministry for National Economy of Hungary
Martin Jareš, Director of Strategy of Tax Policy and Administration, Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic
Artur Gostomski, Head of Unit of Tax Administration Department, Ministry of Finance of Poland
Zdenko Krajčír, Director, Macroeconomic Analysis and Forecasting Department, Deputy Director General of Institute of Financial Policy, Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic
Topic: How have reforms been affected by the financial crisis?
Key questions: Has the ability to predict how reforms will influence economy decreased as markets have become more volatile? How elastic is household consumption and export industry to increased taxation?
Coffee break
11.15-12.15 Mark Allen, IMF Senior Representative for Central and Eastern Europe
Topic: Perspective on the Region’s economies
Lunch
13.30-15.00 European Tax Policy
Moderator: William Morris, Tax Officer, GE Corporate
Nikolaus Tacke, Director European Government Affairs, Coca-Cola Europe
Tom Roesser, Global Tax Officer, Microsoft
Tom Neale, Head of CCCTB Development, EU Commission
Topic: What major trends and EU policies could reshape tax policy in the region?
Key questions: Will there be a CCCTB? Should we be expecting more attempts to design taxes for certain products?
Coffee break
15.15-16.45 Tax as an Economic Development Policy
Moderator: Weston Stacey, Executive Director, AmCham Czech Republic
Cherie Ford (PricewaterhouseCoopers d.o.o), Trade & Investment Committee, AmCham Croatia
Dan Schwartz (RSM Scot s.r.l. Romania), Taxation Commitee, AmCham Romania
Renáta Bláhová (BMB Leitner), Tax Committee, AmCham Slovakia
Jan Linhart (KPMG Czech Republic), Tax Committee, AmCham Czech Republic
Topic: How can tax make the region more prosperous? What are the benefits of investment incentives, and how should they be shaped? Can tax spur energy efficiency? How do taxes impact tourism? Can tax policy increase private investment into research and development?
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