Belize Gets Seat on Regional Tax Administration Executive Council

Belize has secured a seat on the Executive Council of the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations, better known as CIAT, for the 2026 to 2027 term. The election took place during the Administrative Session of the 60th CIAT General Assembly held this week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The appointment is a major achievement for Belize and reflects growing international recognition of the country’s efforts to modernize its tax administration systems through digital transformation, institutional reform, and stronger international cooperation.  The newly elected Executive Council will be chaired by Pedro Porfirio Urrutia of the Dominican Republic and includes representatives from Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Curaçao, Colombia, the Netherlands, and Panama. Belize will be represented on the council by Michelle Longsworth, Director General of the Belize Tax Service Department.  According to the Government of Belize, the Executive Council is one of CIAT’s principal governing bodies and plays a key role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and cooperation agenda among member countries.  Longsworth highlighted that Belize is positioning itself as a leading English-speaking jurisdiction within the CIAT community in adopting modern electronic invoicing standards.  The initiative is expected to improve real-time transaction reporting, strengthen compliance monitoring, enhance transparency, and support more efficient tax administration.  Belize’s election comes as the country continues advancing broader reforms, including the modernization of digital tax systems, enhanced international tax cooperation, and the transition toward a modern semi-autonomous revenue authority.  Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Panama, CIAT is an international organization dedicated to promoting cooperation and strengthening tax administrations among member countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.