Enhancing Data Governance and AI Capability in the Asia Pacific

In a recent virtual session jointly hosted by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRMB), participants engaged in a rich discussion on the principles of data governance and responsible data use. The event was opened by the Regional Directors for Asia and the Pacific, who emphasised the value of collaboration and mutual learning in strengthening tax administration across jurisdictions.

The ATO representatives included a Data Officer, Data Scientist, and Data Engineer who presented on frameworks, standards, and operational practices, alongside an AI use case demonstrating how unstructured

data can be analysed to identify risks. The session also featured a technical overview of AI tools used to interpret legal texts,

showcasing how advanced analytics support decision-making across domains.

The IRMB’s Section Director from the Corporate Application Division shared a presentation on taxpayer risk scoring, including models to assess payability and forecast deliberate non-compliance.  The session highlighted the practical applications of AI and data science in tax administration and underscored the benefits of sharing expertise across borders.

The session was well received, with strong engagement from attendees across jurisdictions, demonstrating how working collaboratively strengthens our collective ability to innovate and improve outcomes.