LAGOS – Experts have urged tax professionals on best practices in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and emotional intelligence (EI) to achieve an effective tax administration.
The experts spoke at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria’s (CITN) fourth Seminar on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and Taxation.
Speaking on ‘Balancing AI and EI in Tax’, Certified EQ Master Coach, James Addison, said AI has immense potential to improve the efficiency of tax administration, but emotional intelligence is crucial for ensuring that the advancements remain fair, transparent and compassionate.
He said by integrating both AI and EI, tax authorities could build trust and improve taxpayer compliance.
Addison, who stressed the challenges of AI in tax administration, also mentioned the key benefits to include efficiency, accuracy and personalisation.
Noting that tax experts’ productivity is directly proportional to his/her emotional health, he said the emotional dynamics in taxation that might ensue could be fear, anxiety, frustration, disappointment and hopelessness.
Also, a professor of practice at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC, Dr David Akanbi emphasised how it could help organisations and tax experts tailor their opportunities and threats.
He called for upskilling and reskilling on the use of Al to enhance productivity and achieve an intelligent tax system that would adapt to the changing population.
The don maintained that if an intelligent tax system works well in a country, the citizens will enjoy the dividends of paying their taxes through the provision of basic amenities to the people by the authorities.
Noting that the Nigerian government has an archaic system of distributing benefits to the citizens by doing more digitisation without optimal transformation, he called for a bill to enforce an intelligent tax system where every citizen gets the benefit of being taxed.
CITN President Samuel Agbeluyi said as tax professionals, there was a need to add value and show competence.
The don maintained that if an intelligent tax system works well in a country, the citizens will enjoy the dividends of paying their taxes through the provision of basic amenities to the people by the authorities.
Noting that the Nigerian government has an archaic system of distributing benefits to the citizens by doing more digitisation without optimal transformation, he called for a bill to enforce an intelligent tax system where every citizen gets the benefit of being taxed.
CITN President Samuel Agbeluyi said as tax professionals, there was a need to add value and show competence.
