Information

Japan Federation and Korean Association meet in Seoul

28 Dec. 2009

The Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Association (JFCPTAA) and the Korean Association of Certified Public Tax Accountants (KACPTA) held the 13th regular meeting at the Korean Association’s Hall in Seoul, Korea on 3 December, 2009. From JFCPTAA, President Ikeda, Vice President Omae, Senior Managing Director Miyata and Director of International Relation Committee Tomori from JFCPTAA, and from KACPTA Mr. Cho Yong-keun, President and other seven officers of the Korean Association attended the meeting. Since 1997 this meeting between Japanese and Korean bodies has been annually convened in Japan and Korea by turns to share experiences and to exchange opinions on issues which both bodies face.
At this year’s meeting, they talked mainly on background of exclusively using the professional title, the scope of tax related service provided by CPAs and professional education programs. The discussion highlighted the topic on the influence of IFRS to accounting for SMEs. In Korea, IFRS will be applied to large-scaled companies in 2011 and as for SMEs measures such as arrangement of other accounting standards are proceeding.
President Ikeda and the Korean Association’s president Cho met for the first time since the last meeting which was held in Tokyo in June 2008. In Seoul they recognized that it is very important for people in both countries more deeply to understand the roles of our profession toward our society, and confirmed continuously to promote mutual cooperation for the sake of further development of the profession in Japan and Korea.

AOTCA convenes first in India -- Mumbai Meeting 2009

14 Dec. 2009

The Asia-Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association (AOTCA, President Mr. Gil Levy) convened the Mumbai Meeting 2009 at the Hotel Trident, Nariman Point Mumbai, India from 19 to 21 November 2009. This is the first time for AOTCA to have meetings in India. Hosted by the All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP, President Mr. Bharatji Agrawal) this annual meeting had around 100 overseas and local participants including the AOTCA officers, heads and executives of the member bodies. From the Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Associations (JFCPTAA), Vice President Kaoru Omae, Director of International Relations Committee Hiroaki Tomori, Deputy Director of the Committee Masahiro Suzuki and Advisor Teruaki Kataoka (AOTCA Honorary Advisor) attended the Meeting.
On 19 November, the 17th general council meeting and an extraordinary general meeting were held to deliberate several agenda such as the business plan and budget of Fiscal Year 2010, the venue and host organization for 2011 Meeting, all of which were approved. Based on the AOTCA’s mid-term visions “to become a tax professional organization which is widely recognized as an influential body”, the business plan for 2010 was focused on several challenges to improve professional services provided for the members, to strengthen its international relationship with CFE and other bodies, and to improve communication through the drastically renovated website.
On 20 and 21 November, the Indian host body organized an international tax conference with the theme “India Vision 2020”. Attended by many local members as well, the conference consisted of seven sessions on doing business in India, transfer pricing, M&A & taxation, VAT comparison, double taxation agreements, etc. Most of session speakers were invited from the member organizations and local business industry. Representing JFCPTAA Mr. Hideaki Mitani, an international committee member of the Kinki CPTA Association participated in the session on VAT comparison as a panelist, who outlined the Japanese consumption tax. Also, the conference had guest speakers from CFE and SGATAR as well as last year. Mr. Stephan Coleclough, CFE President made presentation on the current developments in CFE, whereas Mr. Prijohandojo Kristanto from Indonesia, representing SGATAR, reported on the 37th SGATAR Meeting held in Bali in the previous week.
AOTCA will hold the Sydney Meeting in 2010 and the Jakarta Meeting in 2011.

President Ikeda, international relations officers meet European counterparts

22 Oct. 2009

On 22 and 23 September 2009, JFCPTAA President Toshihiro Ikeda, Deputy President Kaoru Omae, Senior Managing Director Yoshimi Miyata and Director of International Relations Hiroaki Tomori visited the Bundessteuerberater (Federal Chamber of Tax Advisers) in Berlin, Germany and the Kammer der Wirtschaftsteuhänder (Chamber of Financial and Economic Advisers) in Vienna, Austria.

In Berlin
On 22 September, the Japanese delegation met with President Dr. Horst Vinken, CEO Ms. Nora Schmidt-Keßeler and other officers of the German Federal Chamber of Tax Advisers. During the two-hours discussion meeting, they exchanged their views and opinions on various aspects of tax professional schemes which they are commonly challenging in their respective countries. Particularly, the issues on regulations for professional training and education, assuring quality of tax services provided by attorneys and CPAs, and legal framework for establishing firms, corporations and other forms of joint practice were discussed in great depth.
This meeting between two leading organizations of tax professionals in Japan and Germany took place in Berlin, commemorating the 20th anniversary of concluding the friendship agreement in 1989.
Mr. Ikeda and Dr. Vinken agreed that they treasure such long lasting relationship between two organizations and make every effort to promote mutual understanding and cooperation furthermore.

In Vienna
On 23 September, the Japanese delegation visited the Kammer der Wirtschaftsteuhänder (Austrian Chamber of Financial and Economic Advisers) in Vienna, where they met with President Mr. Klaus Hübner, CEO Dr. Gerald Klement and other officers of the Austrian Chamber.
Each organization made the introductory presentation on tax profession in Japan and Austria respectively, based on which they had a discussion session. The Austrian Chamber embraces four types of professionals including tax advisors, CPAs, certified management accountants and licensed bookkeepers. Despite of structural difference between tax professionals’ schemes in two countries, they shared their views on many common issues such as maintaining independent position in relation to professional secrecy, distinguishing tax services provided by attorneys, obligation of training, challenging electronic filing, and some others.
At the end of three-hours lively discussion session, Mr. Hübner mentioned, “Although two organizations concluded the friendship agreement in 1994, there was no good opportunity for promoting mutual understanding. I appreciate today’s event which helped us renew our agreement for cooperative relationship.”

JFCPTAA signs Friendship Agreement with Mongolian body

4 Aug. 2009

On 23 July 2009 JFCPTAA conducted a signing ceremony of the Friendship Agreement with the Mongolian Certified Public Tax Accountants and Consultants Association at the Imperial Hotel in Chiyoda-ward, Tokyo.
Confirmed at the meeting between the heads of both organizations which was held during AOTCA Shanghai Meeting last November, this agreement was concluded for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between two organizations through the exchange information concerning tax systems, tax administration and tax professional systems in their two countries and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in tax professional services.
Present at the ceremony were President Ikeda, Vice President Ishii and eight officers of JFCPTAA and President Mishiglunden, Director Altanzaya and two members of MCPTACA.
In its beginning President Ikeda and President Mishiglunden expressed their hope to strengthen cooperative relationship for the development of tax profession in the Asian region. Then, they exchanged the texts of agreement signed each other.
So far JFCPTAA has concluded the Friendship Agreement with 12 overseas professional bodies such as the Federal Chamber of Tax Consultants of Germany and the Chinese Certified Tax Agents Association.

Friendship Agreement The Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Associations and the Mongolian Certified Public Tax Accountants and Consultants’ Association agree to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between two organizations through the exchange of information concerning tax systems, tax administration and tax professional systems in their two countries and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in tax professional services. We herein conclude a Friendship Agreement to establish and deepen mutual respect and friendship between the two organizations. This Agreement was prepared in two versions; one in Japanese and the other in Mongolian; both of which are equally the official text. on 23 July 2009 in Tokyo Toshihiro Ikeda, President, Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Associations Yadmaa Mishiglunden, President, Mongolian Certified Public Tax Accountants’ and Consultants’ Association

53rd General Meeting ends with success

30 July 2009

JFCPTAA convened its 53rd General Meeting on 23 July 2009 at the Imperial Hotel in Chiyoda-ward, Tokyo. In this annual meeting seven agenda such as the business and budget plan for the fiscal year 2009 were unanimously approved. In the last agenda, selection of new officers, Mr. Toshihiro Ikeda was elected as President, who started his second term of office. The Meeting selected 15 vice chairmen, 100 directors and 15 auditors as well.
After the meeting, the reception took place on a great scale with some 450 participants including distinguished guests from various fields, former JFCPTAA officers.

AOTCA Shanghai Meeting 2008 elects new executives

12 June 2009

The Asia-Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association (AOTCA) convened the Shanghai Meeting 2008 at the Shanghai International Convention Center from 27 to 29 November 2008. Hosted by the Chinese Certified Tax Agents Association (CCTAA), this annual meeting had around 100 overseas participants including the AOTCA officers, heads and executives of the member bodies and accompanying persons. From the Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Associations (JFCPTAA), President Toshihiro Ikeda, Vice President Yukio Ishii, Senior Managing Director Yoshimi Miyata and Director of International Relations Committee Kaoru Omae attended the Shanghai Meeting.
The 8th General Meeting held on 27 November approved several agenda including the business plan of Fiscal Year 2009, which highlighted the association’s mid-term vision, “to become a widely recognized influential organization” focusing challenges to strengthen its international relationship.
Also, the General Meeting elected new officers who took office from 1 January 2009. Newly elected were Mr. Gil Levy from the Taxation Institute of Australia as President, Mr. Thomas Lee from the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong as Deputy President and Mr. Noel Rowland from the Taxation Institute of Australia as Secretary General.
On 28 November, the second day of the Shanghai Meeting, CCTAA organized 5 sessions. Two senior tax officials from the State Administration of Taxation spoke on current tax development in China and Mr. Xu Shand Da, President of CCTAA gave a lecture on the historical development and prospects of Chinese tax professionals. On behalf of the European counterpart of AOTCA, Ms. Maria L. Perez Luque, CFE president made a special presentation on tax challenges in Europe. These sessions were attended many local members as well as overseas participants.
This November AOTCA will hold the annual meeting in Mumbai, India.

JFCPTAA talks with Mongolian body at Shanghai

12 June 2009

On 28 November 2008, the Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants’ Associations (JFCPTAA) had a discussion meeting with the Mongolian Certified Public Tax Accountants and Consultants Association (MCPTACA) at a Shanghai hotel. Present at this meeting were President Ikeda and the officers in charge of International Relations of JFCPTAA and 5 executives including Mr. Yadmaa Mishiglunden, president of MCPTACA.
The meeting started with the report on the background to this meeting by President Ishii of the Chibaken Association, one of regional associations of JFCPTAA, which took the initiative in the friendship exchange with the Mongolian Association. In the meeting President Ikeda said that JFCPTAA will fully support the Mongolian Association in legislation of tax profession and future development of tax professionals in Mongolia.
Also, both organizations confirmed that they proceed with arrangements to conclude a friendship agreement near future.

38th SGATAR Meeting held in Guangzhou, China

12 June 2009

The Study Group on Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR) held its 38th Annual Meeting from 4 to 6 November 2008 in Guangzhou, China. This meeting was attended by some 130 participants including the commissioner of Japan’s National Tax Agency and other officers of NTA. Representing the Asia-Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association (AOTCA) the then President Mori and the then Secretary General Ishii participated in the meeting as observer. SGATAR has a primary purpose of providing an annual forum for revenue authorities to improve the administration of revenue collection and to exchange ideas and opinions on common issues which the members currently face. The members of SGATAR are the tax authorities from 15 countries/regions that are Australia, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau SAR, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The topics discussed in three working groups were WG1) Addressing Tax Administration Challenges posed by Globalization of the Tax Base, WG2) Improving Tax Compliance through better Taxpayer Service and WG3) Case selection in Tax Audit.
AOTCA and SGATAR have agreed to strengthen mutual tie, sending representatives to a regular annual meeting each other since 2005.