Inland Revenue towards tax payer - friendliness

Channa Kasturisinghe

Revenue: The Government’s efforts to bring in reforms to the Inland Revenue Department which is celebrating its 75th year are essentially focused on creating a taxpayer friendly culture which would enhance tax compliance.

Minister of Finance and Inland Revenue Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said the Government has paid special attention to human resource development of the Inland Revenue Department and will be committed to improve the rapport between the taxpayer and the Department.

“There had been a shortage of over 1000 assessors and tax officials and the Government took measures to fulfill that need. We expect to provide opportunities to more people through our graduate employment programme,” Siyambalapitiya said.

He said that the Government has also taken effective measures to prevent any tax related fraud.

Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera said the Government’s plan is to train each and every officer in the department to successfully meet the objective of creating taxpayer friendly culture.

According to the Central Bank tax revenue continued its increasing trend for the third consecutive year in 2006 amounting to 15.3 per cent of GDP compared to 14.2 per cent in 2005 responding to the government’s attempts in the areas of tax policy, tax administration and timely enactment of relevant legislation.