Azerbaijan : Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity

Sovereign Project | 53105-001

The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will assist the Ministry of Taxes (MOT) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) of the Republic of Azerbaijan to strengthen tax revenue administration and policy analysis capacity to mobilize domestic resources to lessen fiscal dependence on oil revenues. The TA will provide services and operational support to help both ministries design tax administration and policy reforms. The proposed coverage areas are: (i) human resource management; (ii) taxpayer compliance; and (iii) tax revenue analysis and modeling. The TA will also provide support on capacity development plans.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Miyaki, Yuji
    Central and West Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Azerbaijan
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity
Project Number 53105-001
Country / Economy Azerbaijan
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9799-AZE: Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 100,000.00
Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund US$ 500,000.00
Operational Priorities OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Public sector management / Public administration

Gender Some gender elements
Description The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will assist the Ministry of Taxes (MOT) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) of the Republic of Azerbaijan to strengthen tax revenue administration and policy analysis capacity to mobilize domestic resources to lessen fiscal dependence on oil revenues. The TA will provide services and operational support to help both ministries design tax administration and policy reforms. The proposed coverage areas are: (i) human resource management; (ii) taxpayer compliance; and (iii) tax revenue analysis and modeling. The TA will also provide support on capacity development plans.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy Recent tax revenue performance. Tax revenues in Azerbaijan as a percentage of gross domestic product fell to 9.3% in 2018 from 9.9% in 2017 and 11.6% in 2016 which is lower than that of comparative countries in the Central and West Asia19.8% for Kyrgyz Republic and 25.7% for Georgia in 2017, 17.3% average for Asia and the Pacific. The state budget has become highly dependent on transfers from the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ). In 2013, AZN11.35 billion (58.2% of state budget revenues) were transferred from SOFAZ to the state budget, and AZN6.10 billion (36.9% of state budget revenues) in 2017. Reliance on oil revenues to support the state budget has made the economy vulnerable to external shocks. Recognizing this problem, the government has focused on strengthening tax policy and administration capacity in non-oil sectors and has implemented several tax reforms including the introduction of an advance tax ruling concept, the concept of voluntary tax disclosure, modification of value-added tax (VAT) rules, and promotion of cashless payments.
Impact

Non-oil fiscal position improved (Strategic Roadmap of National Economic Perspectives)

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Strengthened tax policy and compliance administration

Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Human resource and organizational performance management strengthened.

Taxpayer services improved

Taxpayer compliance improved by dealing more effectively with serious incidents of non-compliance

Fiscal management enhanced through improved fiscal modeling

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down activities. Knowledge events via virtual workshops and e-learning modules are being developed.
Geographical Location Nation-wide
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The TA will require five international consultants (13 person-months in total) and one national consultant (9 person-months).ADB will engage the consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated staff instructions.
Procurement No procurement envisaged for this TA.
Responsible ADB Officer Miyaki, Yuji
Responsible ADB Department Central and West Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division, CWRD
Executing Agencies
The Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan Republic
Timetable
Concept Clearance 30 May 2019
Fact Finding 17 Jul 2019 to 24 Jul 2019
MRM -
Approval 10 Sep 2019
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 22 Jun 2021

TA 9799-AZE

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
10 Sep 2019 23 Oct 2019 23 Oct 2019 31 Aug 2021 30 Sep 2023 -
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
100,000.00 500,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 600,000.00 07 Mar 2023 270,535.99

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity: Technical Assistance Report Technical Assistance Reports Sep 2019

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Human Resource Management Specialist (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Strengthening Tax Policy and Administration Capacity - Tax Specialist (International) Individual - Consulting Closed
Tax Administration and Coordination Specialist (Natl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Tax Administration and Taxpayer Service Specialist/Team Leader (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Tax Arrears Management and Collection Specialist (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Tax Audit Specialist (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Tax Policy Specialist (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed
Taxpayer Advocate and Taxpayer Service Specialist (Intl) Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.