The US-India Tax Forum, an US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) initiative, has appointed Tarun Bajaj, the former Revenue Secretary and Secretary of Economic Affairs to the Government of India, as the new head of the Forum.
Joined USISPF as an advisor to the Board of Directors in January 2024 his appointment is a testament to his significant experience and expertise in economic affairs and taxation matters.
During his tenure with the Indian government, he managed both the direct and indirect tax revenues for the government by working towards shaping fiscal policies and promoting economic growth. He was also instrumental in stabilising the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Calling him an ideal candidate, Dr. Mukesh Aghi, USISPF President and CEO, said that his experience in leading fiscal and tax policies will be helpful to intricate economic terrains, nurturing strong economic bonds between both nations.
He is an 1988 batch IAS of Haryana Cadre who later played a critical role in formulating the Indian government’s economic response to the pandemic, including the rollout of various relief measures and economic stimulus packages. His financial insights played a key role in the formation of central government budgets for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 years.
Tarun Bajaj, speaking on his appointment, expressed that with this new role, he is looking forward to contributing to making the US-India Tax Forum a robust and effective institution.
It is a tax policy-dedicated forum to foster a strong partnership between the two countries as an independent, not-for-profit institution. It is trusted amongst the businesses, the diaspora of the two governments and non-profit organisations.
Officially launched on February 25, 2020, as an independent not-for-profit institution, it brings together government policymakers, global tax experts, governments of both countries, and the business community at large. The Forum is an initiative to provide a platform for member companies to engage with relevant government officials and facilitate discussions on tax issues to improve tax policy. It also contributes to enhancing the ease of doing business in the US-India corridor.