20 October 2026 - Rising interest rates and energy prices, mounting debt and a volatile global economic and geopolitical context have left governments with less room in their budgets, at a time when they are already stretched. Paying for the schools, hospitals and roads that development depends on only gets harder: an estimated $4 trillion a year is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. How to fill this gap? Tax is one answer ¨C and the question that occupies the UN Tax Committee, an ECOSOC body of 25 tax experts from around the world. The Committee meets in Geneva from 20 to 23 October 2026 for its 33rd session.
The Committee's work is about supporting countries, especially developing ones, to raise revenue and use tax effectively to achieve the SDGs. Having set its priorities and detailed work plans for 2025¨C2029, the Committee will use this session to review the first technical outputs of this membership and the progress made across 11 workstreams.
Members will look at how to tax wealthy individuals more effectively, and at how tax policy and administration affect women and men differently. They will consider environmental taxes and a framework for valuing critical minerals, both of which matter for the climate and energy transition.
Detailed outlines for a practical guide on the use of AI by tax administrations will be reviewed, along with an evaluation report on how countries might better tax services sold across their borders by companies with no physical presence there.
Drawn up with developing countries and other experts actively engaged in its subcommittees and sessions, the Committee's guidance is meant to be usable: practical options and tools for ministries of finance to raise revenue fairly and effectively, without leaning hardest on those who can least afford it.
The 33rd session is open to Member State observers and stakeholders from academia, civil society, the business sector and international organizations. by 12 October 2026.
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