Sri Lanka’s top revenue collector to double efforts on eve of budget
Sri Lanka’s major revenue collector, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has been directed to double its efforts in collecting the revenue target of Rs. 512 billion this year by changing its attitude towards taxpayers, Finance Ministry sources said.
The department should intensify its efforts motivating tax collection officers and modernizing systems while minimising their overhead costs, a senior official of the ministry said.
Treasury Secretary Dr P.B. Jayasundera has given clear directions towards this end, he said.
The IRD has collected Rs. 369 billion in taxes during the first nine months this year, eight per cent higher than last year, IRD Commissioner General Malani Samarasekera told a media conference in Colombo on Wednesday.
She said that the department has taken measures to achieve revenue targets through the reduction of compliance costs and the enhancement of efficiency and productivity that would result from automated revenue collection and compliance, monitoring and enforcement.
The department has implemented a programme during the past two months to change attitudes of all staff creating a customer friendly environment at the institution.
Sri Lanka’s first annual Tax Week will be conducted from November 1 to 8 with revenue officials taking to the streets to create awareness on the tax system and the importance of paying taxes to maintain public services including health and education as well as mega projects like irrigation, roads, ports and airports which cannot be undertaken by the private sector, she revealed.
The officials will distribute leaflets, conduct seminars countrywide and participate in a common activity in Kandy during the Tax Week, she revealed.
A one-stop-shop is functioning at the IRD head office in Colombo to provide a friendly and efficient service for taxpayers. This will be officially opened during the Tax Week, she said.
The vast change in the attitude of the staff is expected to be made in the collection of tax without burdening taxpayers.
The purpose of this special week is to honour taxpayers and to encourage others towards paying taxes, she added.
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