Four days of meetings and seminars, 2500 participants coming from all over the world to attend a rich scientific programme on international tax issues of current interest. “IFA Congress represented a great opportunity for the local economy, for many economic players have been involved before and during the event. Just think about the 15 hotels that have hosted all delegates…”, Emma Aru, president of ega, commented at the end of the Congress. The Italian PCO has been the Organising Secretariat for IFA Rome 2010.
Rome, September 2010. From August 29th to September 3rd the Capital hosted the annual world congress of IFA, the International Fiscal Association. The two main topics of this edition were: 1) “International tax avoidance and tax treaties: Application of anti-avoidance provisions” that deals with some of the most intriguing and debated issues among scholars and practitioners; 2) “Death as a taxable event and its international ramifications” that addresses problems of cross-border successions which are more and more common in our increasingly mobile society. The scientific programme of this 64th IFA Congress has been designated to give delegates an update on international tax issues of current interest and also included 10 Seminars, where professionals had the chance to meet each other and share knowledge and experience (www.ifarome2010.it).
Participants came from both private and public organisations including: leading tax advisors from the legal and accounting professions, corporate tax executives from multi-national corporations, senior government officials, members of the judiciary and university professors from around the world. Besides, a considerable number of accompanying persons decided to come to Italy, attracted by one of the most beautiful cities of the world.
Augusto Fantozzi, president of IFA Italy, states: “IFA aims to give a significant input to international institutions such as the EU, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and the UN, in terms of rules and principles, in the harmony of legislations and in contrast towards tax evasion and avoidance. Everything – Fantozzi underlines – with maximum respect for the taxpayer’s rights.”
The National Secretariat, Bruno Cangemi explains: “IFA represents the most known and qualified international forum where professionals and financial association representatives, around the world, have the opportunity to exchange opinions and experiences by contributing to the processing of tax legislations and to the interpretation of criteria necessary for correct taxation of both commercial and financial operations.”
“Tax reduction of small and medium firms has been one of the most debated issues of the US president, Barak Obama” – Guglielmo Maisto, professor of International Tax Law, says – Italy should bind possible reductions only towards those ones who invest in research.”
The 64th IFA Congress offered not only a rich scientific programme but also strong emotions. Participants came from 85 countries around the world, thus, a cultural and a historical art programme has been organised in order to arise a strong mix of emotions of “Beautiful Italy”: a tribute to the artistic, historical, cultural and natural beauties of the Italian country with visits to both museums and unforgettable live shows. The famous Italian opera has enchanted and fascinated all participants to the point that their applause lasted for almost ten minutes. The social programme closed with a gala dinner in the beautiful frame of Villa Miani.
Among the 2500 delegates there was also Lynwood Bell: a nice man coming from Anguilla island, who designed an original “promotional campaign” of his country. Lyn is in fact an unofficial ambassador for the Caribbean jurisdiction of Anguilla, British West Indies thanks to his car, that bears the only Anguilla vehicle license plates on any vehicle outside Anguilla…contributing to the unique international visibility of this small but vibrant nation of 15,000 people! The same car and registration plates have been back and forth across the Atlantic six times and after the London and Barcelona editions, he chose to arrive also at IFA Rome by his vintage 1984 Porsche 928.
