WITH a significantly higher target of $126.8B, which is over the 2013 figure, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr Khurshid Sattaur, has reported that while the 2014 target of $135.3B has been challenging, the agency was satisfied with its performance.

By way of a public statement dispatched yesterday, Sattaur provided an update of the GRA’s 2014 performance and said the GRA had a remarkable year (2014), “though fraught with obstacles…

“GRA is satisfied that it has done exceedingly well in terms of its main goal of revenue collection for 2014 and looks forward to a new year (in which) the citizenry honour their tax obligations more voluntarily.”

He used the opportunity to point out that the organisation continues to prove its fortitude amidst much skepticism and negative publicity.

“Speculation in the public domain had suggested that revenue collection for 2014 was waning, but we are satisfied with our achievement for 2014,” the Commissioner-General said, noting that the GRA continues to fulfill its mandate in collecting Government revenues, in keeping with the estimate approved in the National Assembly.

Sattaur also reported that, complementing its achievements in revenue collection, the GRA has also seen improvement in the number of taxpayers who have been honouring their obligation to file returns.

“There was a record 20,270 tax returns submitted at tax sites set up across the country for the April 30, 2014 deadline for (submission of) Income Tax Returns,” Sattaur said.

TRIPS UPGRADE
It has also been reported that, in keeping with its Information Communication Technology (ICT) Modernisation plan, upgrades to its Total Revenue Integrated Processing System (TRIPS) are being conducted for the GRA to facilitate web-based transactions.
“As such, TRIPS II is expected to (be) rolled out by mid-2015,” Sattaur announced.

In recent months, the TRIPS system had come in for significant flack in some sections of the media over the use of at least two of its modules. According to Sattaur, 2015 is expected to be a year of technological change and advances for staff and taxpayers, as the GRA eagerly looks forward to providing electronic services, including in the filing of Tax Returns.

“During 2015, further enhancements are also expected to be made to the new plastic driver’s licence as the agency moves into phase II of the rollout, to allow for information sharing with relevant stakeholders, among other things,” he announced.

In 2014, motor vehicle licences were upgraded to a plastic card. According to Sattaur, the material is difficult to reproduce and includes some sophisticated features that could not have been included on the “red book” licence.

This year also marks 15 years since the GRA has been functioning as a semi-autonomous body with a mandate to promote compliance with the country’s tax, trade and border laws and regulations.

E-TRANSACTIONS
It was reported that, during 2014, efficiency and integrity remained at the heart of GRA’s operations, prompting the introduction of the Random Selection of Commercial imports for Inspection, which solicits the public’s involvement in the selection and examination process.

“Other areas of achievement included the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Chinese-manufactured mobile container scanner with a capacity to electronically scan a maximum of 20 containers in one hour, using the latest technology in X-ray imaging,” Sattaur explained.

He also reported that, in 2014, GRA achieved significant success in collaborating with financial institutions and service providers in rolling out its Internet, tele-banking and other payment options’ programme to provide taxpayers with a modern and secure alternative for paying taxes.

In March 2014, commercial banks and corporate entities were added as collecting agents for various tax types and licence fees. The entities on board with the initiative are Mobile Money Guyana (MMG), Bill Express, Demerara Bank, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited, Republic Bank and the Bank of Baroda. The initiative allowed taxpayers the option of paying various tax types via their computers or phones from any location, or at a convenient over-the-counter Bill Express location.

(Gary Eleazar)