GRA computerizing system for efficiency – Sattaur

Feb 08, 2014 News

– Taxpayers to process transactions online

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is moving to upgrade its computerized processing system to allow taxpayers to conduct transactions with the entity via the worldwide web, says Khurshid Sattaur, Commissioner General of GRA.
In a recent interview, Sattaur said GRA’s key processing resources is its Information Technology system. GRA is using the Total Revenue Integrated Processing system, which is currently being upgraded.

Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur

According to Sattaur, last year GRA approached its Information Technology contractor to upgrade the system that is expected to increase its capacity significantly and revolutionize the operations of GRA.
He noted that the process commenced late 2013 and over $3M has been expended thus far. “When that system comes in by the end of 2014 one would expect to see major changes in what we have happening at GRA. First of all, we would have online services offered to taxpayers. This simply means they can stay at home or at the office and do business with us through the internet. It would be a major change,” he said.
This is expected to reduce the approximately 5,000 persons who visit GRA’s location at Camp Street daily to transact business. In fact, traffic congestion caused by the customers was listed as one of the hurdles the entity faced in 2013.
According to Sattaur, prior to GRA moving to the Camp Street location, its operations were executed in five separate buildings. However, with the relocation, GRA was forced to provide parking facilities for 250 of its 700 staff and members of the public.
“We have created parking for them (customers) in Waterloo Street, which is just a street away. But, we don’t see many of them using it. What they all seem to do is clog up the road stop in front of the building, holding up traffic. Someone would run in and then you see the person move off gradually… this would cause a buildup,” he said.
In an attempt to resolve the congestion, GRA approached several agencies including the City Council, Government and private businesses. While City Council has been helpful, private businesses have also chipped in to help.
Sattaur related that some private businesses have accommodated GRA on their unused premises and others have made business arrangements with GRA to develop their parking areas and utilize them for staff and public.
He enlightened that GRA is about to launch a new parking area on the railway embankment. Security would be provided to ensure the safety of parked vehicles while the clients would walk two blocks away to conduct business with the agency.
Explaining the computerized upgrade further, Sattaur said it would prepare GRA to deal with delinquent taxpayers.
“I would be targeting those taxpayers who are not compliant and the system would tell me that. I would have a risk profiling system that can make determination of persons who are not in compliance based on all the parameters we will be establishing,” he said.
According to Sattaur, GRA would be “running by exception,” meaning that compliant taxpayers could benefit from the relaxation of rules regarding their final returns for the year. He said GRA at some juncture would like to give compliant taxpayers the level of assurance they will not be the main target.
“Things that are happening now like electronic banking, payment tax through the internet or through telephone or through the money transfer businesses will take on a different level of progression when the system comes,” Sattaur stated.