The Tax Stamp Forum is the only global event to focus on strategic and practical solutions  to combat the illicit trade in tobacco and alcohol - including but not limited to tax stamps.

Excise duty on tobacco and liquor is an important source of revenue for governments. This income is, however, under threat from the illicit trade in both– whether in the form of contraband and/or counterfeiting. Governments, which are losing billions each year in lost revenues, can protect themselves and this valuable source of revenue by deploying tax stamps as a vehicle for tax collection and proof of payment. And the same vehicle, in providing proof of authenticity, also protects the interests of manufacturers.

The first Tax Stamp Forum, which took place in mid February 2009 in Budapest, attracted some 170 delegates from nearly 100 organizations and 33 countries – representing government excise and customs agencies, cigarette and liquor manufacturers and suppliers of authentication and serialisation technologies. Its primary objective was to bring these groups together to discuss the latest developments in tax stamp systems and learn from one another about requirements, best practice and potential solutions.

In this it certainly succeeded – aided by its fortuitous timing. As one speaker put it: “the deteriorating global economic environment means maximising recovery of tax revenue is key for governments. Despite their best efforts with fiscal stimulus packages and the like, governments cannot control the conditions that are leading to reduced receipts from income and corporation tax. Tobacco and alcohol consumption, on the other hand, is largely unaffected by the current economic situation and receipts from this form of tax are something that governments, with the right tools, can control.”

These tools are among the topics under discussion at the second Tax Stamp Forum, with presentations on substrates, serialisation, taggants, holograms and digital verificaiton, with a particular emphasis on track & trace solutions. . I

Setting the scene, meanwhile, will be presentations from customs authorities, tax specialists and manufacturers  outlining the problems and their devastating impact, along with national and international initiatives to provide solutions combining technology, policing and effective enforcement. Added to these will be case studies from revenue agencies and suppliers demonstrating the successful implementation of tax stamp programmes around the world.
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The second Tax Stamp Forum will provide a unique opportunity to show how governments can develop effective tax revenue collection regimes through the use of tax stamps, how manufacturers and distributors can turn tax stamps to their advantage and how suppliers of components, products and systems, can tailor their developments to provide effective, practical and affordable solutions.

The Tax Stamp Forum is produced by Reconnaissance International.