Michael Hewetson

Michael is an independent consultant working in the areas of tax administration, IT implementation, and data management. Since 2017, he has completed more than 40 projects for the IMF, working in Africa and Eastern Europe, primarily in the areas of compliance risk management, ICT implementation digital service delivery and enhancement of audit and debt collection processes. Michael has also completed a range of diagnostic, revenue mobilization and TADAT assessment missions for the Fund. Michael has a long and varied career in tax, primarily with the New Zealand tax authority, where he held executive roles including Chief Financial Officer, Regional Commissioner, Group Manager Design, and acting Deputy Commissioner, Information, Design and Systems. During his 25-year leadership career, Michael was responsible for national leadership of debt and return collection, processing, tax audit and delivery of Inland Revenue’s e-services portfolio. He also oversaw a range of reorganisations in the operations of the tax authority, and projects that introduced new capabilities and work processes. Michael has worked in other tax jurisdictions, including Revenue Canada, Taxation and was Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Solomon Islands, between 2005 to 2008. Michael utilised his wide-range of tax experience at the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, where he worked for three-years as a Senior Advisor-Tax Administration. During this time, he provided advice and support to members jurisdictions and was the principal author of the OECD Tax Administration Series, 2017. He also authored publications on advanced analytics and digital delivery.