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SUVA – The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforming its tax governance framework to be delisted from the European Union’s tax blacklist within 18 months, according to FRCS Chief of Staff Shavindra Nath.
Speaking during a recent presentation to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Nath said Fiji is working closely with international partners, including the OECD, EU, ADB, and PFTAC, to meet the technical standards required for tax transparency and exchange of information.
“We are blacklisted under three different categories, including tax transparency,” Nath stated. “We now need cross-jurisdictional exchange of information so that tax affairs of multinationals are visible.”
Blacklisted Since 2019
Fiji was originally added to the EU’s gray list in 2018 following a detailed assessment of its tax practices. After failing to make sufficient progress during a 12-month remediation window, it was formally blacklisted in 2019. The EU’s concerns centered around:
- Lack of tax transparency
- Inadequate information-sharing protocols
- Gaps in international cooperation on taxation
Reform Agenda: International Collaboration Key
According to Nath, Fiji has made “substantial progress” in meeting EU benchmarks and now has a roadmap for full compliance. The country’s reform strategy includes:
- Implementing exchange of information platforms across jurisdictions
- Enhancing visibility of multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) tax affairs
- Leveraging technical assistance from the ADB, OECD, PFTAC, and the EU
“If everything goes in order, we should be out of the blacklist in the next 12 to 18 months,” Nath said optimistically.
Broader Impact: Strengthening Financial Credibility
Delisting from the EU blacklist would mark a major milestone for Fiji, improving its international reputation, investment climate, and access to financial markets. Compliance with EU and OECD tax norms is also expected to enhance transparency and resilience within the domestic financial sector.
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