Noormala Dussoye

Department: International Taxation Section, Large taxpayers Department

• Ensured compliance with international tax regulations, including the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), supporting global transparency initiatives.

• Engaged with regulatory bodies, such as the OECD's Global Forum, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and several tax authorities worldwide, to address compliance concerns and strengthen reporting frameworks.

• Conducted onsite monitoring visits to banks and service providers, verifying KYC documentation, self-certification forms, and business plans to ensure full compliance with CRS regulations.

• Conducted risk-based compliance monitoring for financial institutions and large corporate taxpayers, identifying vulnerabilities in tax reporting practices.

• Assisted in drafting and updating CRS guidance notes.

• Reviewed CRS and FATCA reports to detect risks and non-compliance, ensuring financial institutions adhered to international reporting obligations.

• Engaged directly with non-compliant financial institutions, facilitating remedial actions to restore compliance.

• Liaised with the Global Forum of the OECD regarding assessments on the three core requirements of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS):Legislative assessment, Confidentiality and data safeguard assessment, Effective implementation of CRS in practice

• Attended OECD's Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) forums and resolved cross-border tax disputes.

• Issued Tax Residency Certificates (TRCs), Double Taxation Instruments (DTIs), and No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

• Contributed input for the Shipping Regime questionnaire, submitted annually to the Forum on Harmful Tax Practices of the OECD.

• Analyzed FATCA/CRS reports, identifying patterns and inconsistencies in reporting that required further regulatory action.

• Acted as the main liaison officer with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), handling compliance queries, resolving technical issues, and ensuring FATCA reporting obligations were met.

• Advised banks, management companies, life insurance firms, and multinational corporations on CRS classification, reporting requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Engaged with tax authorities globally, addressing technical issues and resolving discrepancies in automated tax data exchanges.

• Participated in benchmarking exercises and training sessions, where tax officials from multiple jurisdictions visited Mauritius to learn about CRS compliance frameworks.

• Attended OECD virtual meetings and regulatory discussions, providing insights into Mauritius' compliance landscape and global tax transparency initiatives.

• Conducted technical briefings for senior management, presenting emerging risks in global tax compliance, financial reporting standards, and exchange of information protocols.

• Assisted in policy refinements and regulatory framework updates, ensuring compliance policies remained aligned with international best practices.

• Regulatory Compliance & Due Diligence Gained in-depth knowledge of FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) and CRS (Common Reporting Standard) regulations across multiple jurisdictions.

• Conducted due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) reviews in compliance with FATCA/CRS requirements, ensuring clients met international tax transparency obligations.

• Assisted in the preparation, verification, and validation of CRS & FATCA forms, cross-checking with supporting KYC documents provided by clients and staff.

• Performed periodic reviews of client profiles, assessing changes in circumstances, tax residency status, and risk classification.

• Data Management & Compliance Reporting: Maintained and monitored FATCA/CRS compliance databases, ensuring accuracy in reporting financial accounts to tax authorities.

• Assisted in the preparation of board reports and compliance summaries, providing regulatory insights on FATCA/CRS obligations.

• Developed process notes for client onboarding and self-certification form procedures, standardising compliance workflows.

• Risk Assessment & Financial Structures: Acquired comprehensive knowledge of various trust structures (e.g., Revocable, Irrevocable, Discretionary, Non-discretionary) and their tax implications under FATCA/CRS reporting frameworks.

• Assisted in identifying potential compliance risks related to offshore financial structures and tax residency classifications.
  

• Conducted a Graduate Tracer Study in collaboration with the World Bank, analysing employment trends, skills gaps, and sectoral demand in Mauritius.

• Designed survey methodologies and analysed data to assess graduate employability, labour market mismatches, and over-saturated fields of study.

• Managed and updated databases on student enrolment, research funding, and stipends for MPhil/PhD and Postdoctoral Fellowship programmes.

• Assisted in the monitoring and evaluation of research schemes for Publicly Funded Tertiary Education Institutes (PFIs).

• Supported the organisation of National Research Week, facilitating engagement between policymakers, academia, and industry leaders.