Belize Earns a Seat in Regional Tax Body CIAT

Belize has been elected to the Executive Council of the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations for the 2026 to 2027 term. Belize will be represented on the council by Michelle Longsworth, director general of the Belize Tax Service Department, who will sit alongside representatives from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Panama.

Belize’s election during the 60th CIAT General Assembly in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on 11th May puts the country in a regional leadership role at exactly the moment it is pushing one of its most significant tax reforms in years: the rollout of electronic invoicing.

In March, the Ministry of Finance confirmed plans to fully implement mandatory e-invoicing for all GST-registered businesses, following legislation that took effect on January 1, 2025. Businesses that fail to comply face penalties under the amended GST Act

The system is designed to reduce tax evasion by creating transparent, traceable transaction records while also simplifying GST reporting obligations for businesses.

The election also comes as Belize advances a broader reform agenda, including strengthening international tax cooperation frameworks and transitioning towards a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA).