PCT Conference 2026: renewing commitment to Domestic Revenue Mobilisation for sustainable development

• Global dialogue on taxation and development 
• Country-led reforms and coordinated international support 
• Renewed commitment to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation

The Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) Tax and Development Conference 2026 brought together over 200 policymakers, tax officials, and development partners in Tokyo from 2 to 3 March 2026. Hosted by the Government of Japan, the event marked the tenth anniversary of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) and provided a timely forum to reflect on the role of taxation in development at a moment of increasing fiscal pressure and declining aid flows.

Discussions throughout the conference focused on the growing importance of domestic revenue mobilisation (DRM) as a foundation for sustainable development. Participants highlighted widening financing gaps, rising debt levels, and the need for countries to strengthen their fiscal systems to ensure stability and fund public services. In this context, tax systems were framed not only as technical instruments but as central pillars of state capacity and inclusive growth.

Tax systems were framed not only as technical instruments but as central pillars of state capacity and inclusive growth.

A central message emerging from the conference was that effective DRM depends on long-term, country-led reform processes. Participants stressed the importance of Medium-Term Revenue Strategies, improvements in tax administration, and stronger use of data and digital tools. At the same time, international support was seen as most effective when it is aligned with national priorities, well-coordinated, and sustained over time.

Effective DRM depends on long-term, country-led reform processes.

The conference also underscored the value of international and regional cooperation. Exchanges between countries, as well as technical assistance on issues such as tax expenditures, exchange of information, and emerging international tax rules, were identified as essential. Regional organisations were recognised as key actors in translating global standards into practical reforms and facilitating peer learning among countries facing similar challenges.

In the session on regional perspectives, Nikola Djuric from the Addis Tax Initiative contributed to the discussion by highlighting how development cooperation can better support country-led reforms while integrating regional dynamics. The intervention pointed to practical experiences in areas such as tax expenditure analysis and tax gap estimation, showing how both regional and cross-regional collaboration can strengthen reform outcomes. It also emphasised the role of regional institutions in building sustainable technical and research capacity, as well as their importance in the global debates on tax.

Concluding statement of the PCT Conference in Tokyo

The conference concluded with a shared recognition of the urgent need to strengthen tax systems globally. Participants reaffirmed that countries must lead their own reform agendas, while international partners should provide coordinated, demand-driven, sequenced and tailored support. Particular attention was given to the needs of countries with limited administrative capacity, including fragile states and small island developing states.

The conference highlighted concrete opportunities for progress. These include expanding the use of digital tools in tax administration, improving compliance management, strengthening the use of data in policymaking, and rationalising tax expenditures to broaden the tax base. Participants also reaffirmed their commitment to deeper collaboration, both globally and regionally, while maintaining a clear focus on country-specific approaches. The conference closed with a renewed collective commitment to support domestic revenue mobilisation as a cornerstone of sustainable development financing. You can read the concluding statement here.