Artificial intelligence is generating growing interest among tax administrations across Africa, with potential applications ranging from taxpayer services and chatbots to risk assessment, audit selection and fraud detection. But AI does not operate in isolation. Its effectiveness depends heavily on the digital public infrastructure (DPI) underpinning tax systems — including digital identity, payments, registries, data exchange and interoperable systems that allow administrations to access and use reliable information.
This webinar, jointly hosted by the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) and the African Tax Administration Forum Network (ATAF), will bring together researchers and practitioners to examine what AI adoption means in practice for African tax administrations. Drawing on experiences from revenue authorities across the continent, the discussion will look beyond the promise of new technologies to consider the infrastructure, institutional capacity and governance arrangements needed to deploy them effectively and responsibly.
The discussion will explore:
- Which AI applications are already feasible for tax administrations, and which depend on stronger DPI foundations;
- Practical lessons from African revenue authorities on chatbots, data infrastructure, institutional capacity and managing technology providers;
- The governance and taxpayer-rights safeguards needed as AI becomes more embedded in compliance and enforcement; and
- Where further research and evidence are most needed to inform policy and investment decisions.
The webinar will also serve as a precursor to the 11th ATAF/ATRN Annual Congress on Contemporary Taxation Issues in Africa, taking place in Kigali on 22–24 September 2026 – where ICTD will also be present with speaking roles and a masterclass.