To support the e-government initiative, the department recently upgraded its computer system to adopt global standards that allow for the interchange of information with other countries, while also focusing on providing service to citizens nationwide, according to Chantima Sirisaengtaksin, an IT consultant for the Revenue Department (RD).
Mrs Chantima noted that the RD used a variety of operating systems, such as AIX, OS/390, Windows, Unix, and Linux, as well as a number of database management systems, including DB2, Oracle, MS SQL Server and MySQL.
To achieve its e-revenue objectives, Mrs Chantima said the department not only brought in new technology, but also transformed its policies, operations and staff attitudes.
All of the various services have been integrated at the back office, while users can easily connect to the systems without knowing about the underlying infrastructure.
To encourage prompt tax payments, the RD has adopted the slogan "pay proper tax today, no back tax tomorrow," and has also quickened tax refunds for Internet payment.
The IT consultant said tax refunds were done within 30 days in 2004, which improved to 15 days this year.
In terms of operation, the public can pay tax anywhere, anytime, and settle tax payments on the Internet.
The department has also changed its officers' perspectives to make them realise that e-revenue is key to the organisation, while also pushing Internet services internally. For example, officers who want to take a vacation must submit their application online. All office paperwork such as allowances and examinations for promotion are also now done via the network.
The RD currently contributes the highest value of tax revenue (income and consumption tax) to the country, or 66.26 percent, followed by the Customs department (import and export duty) and the Excise department (excise tax).
Today any type of taxation can be filed and submitted via the Internet. The next step will be tax refunds via Internet once the department works on the system with the banks.
Internally, an intranet allows the department to run an e-office, offer support applications and provide other information services, such as a data warehouse accessible by the Bank of Thailand, the Comptroller General's Department, the Fiscal Policy Office, and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
The department now provides some eight informational web services, such as PIN/TIN verification information, information on VAT refunds for tourists, VAT registration, VAT exemptions for the jewelry business and personal income tax calculations. The services for government organisations include tax collection summary information, corporate income tax details, and joint venture and foreign companies information.
The next step for the department is to establish an XML standard for taxation in collaboration with Nectec, the ICT Ministry and others.
The department now provides electronic tax payment data and integrates that data online with other agencies. It is also developing an interactive call centre to provide services to the public by the end of the year.
Quelle: Bangkok Post, 02.11.2005
