Inland Revenue goes hi-tech

Charumini de Silva

Mahinda Medagoda

The Inland Revenue Department has met its targets for last year given by the Finance Ministry by achieving a target of Rs 277 billion revenue, Department of Inland Revenue Commissioner General Mahinda Medagoda told the Daily News Business yesterday.

He said the Department will enhance its facilities with the modernization of ICT with Asian Development Bank assistance.

The Department will introduce a convenient and a user-friendly e-filing system for the first time in Sri Lanka.

With this facility, income tax returns can be filed through the Internet, statutory forms added up could be filed through e-filing and download documents easily.

E-filing will enable taxpayers to submit the signed copy of the return without waiting in queues or visiting local income tax offices.

E-filing system will be introduced to 500 selected taxpayers including corporates, Medagoda said.

Individual taxpayers could also pay their taxes through People’s Bank branches. Earlier, this facility was only given to the Bank of Ceylon.

The Department has taken action to provide credit card facilities and it will be introduced as a test case from the Jawatte office and with its success, the Department will introduce it to other regional offices, he said.

The Commissioner General said the introduction of the improved technology to the country’s tax payment system will encourage taxpayers to pay their taxes on time.

It is important that the taxpayers pay their taxes on time to support the Government’s development activities and to contribute their part in building the country,” Medagoda said.