Taxpayers can now benefit from completing their tax returns on-line by logging on to the government portal www.gov.mt or the Inland Revenue Department website www.ird.gov.mt
Queues can be avoided due to the e-government initiatives taken by the Inland Revenue department, explained Industry, Investment and Information technology Minister Austin Gatt at the launch of the new service yesterday.
Dr Gatt said this initiative must be promoted as it makes the form-filling process much simpler for the taxpayer. He appealed to everyone to register for an electronic identification. “This can be done at any local council office and ensures the utmost security,” he said.
This identification will allow people to give out personal information without the fear of it being abused. “Most of the services due to be launched later this year will require this eID and therefore people should apply for it as soon as possible to make the most of the developments in e-government,” said Dr Gatt.
Malta Information Technology and Training Service Projects Manager Pierre Vella gave a demonstration of how the tax return forms would be completed on-line. When a person logs on to the department website or through the government portal, he is guided immediately.
People will be able to view their history in the department and check the returns they have sent in the past to confirm that they were processed, he said, explaining that it is possible to check how much has been paid and how much is owed by the department.
Mr Vella noted that each person must first complete a tax questionnaire. The details given in this will allow the system to filter any parts of the form that do not apply to that particular person.
The next step involves completing the actual tax return and self-assessment forms. Mr Vella explained that if a mistake is made, the person is notified and the mistake identified.
“There is even a service that shows why a particular mistake may have been made and how to fix it,” he said.
Mr Vella explained that the taxpayer is not obliged to complete the form and submit it immediately. “One can save the information that has been inputted and continue another time,” he explained.
The system will also calculate how much a person owes or is owed. “This allows for people to double check the figure they calculate themselves,” Mr Vella continued.
By completing the forms on-line, people can do everything from the comfort of their own home or office without having to waste time in long queues.
Dr Gatt explained that this can also serve as leverage for the restructuring of departments. “Fewer employees will be needed in the front office, due to the e-government services, and therefore they can be moved to help out in the back office operations,” he said.
The minister noted with a smile that Malta’s e-government services are most advanced in the areas that other countries find problematic, ie taxes and social security.
In fact, this service is a welcome addition to the other three on-line services offered by the Inland Revenue Department, including the paying of taxes over the internet, Dr Gatt concluded.
Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech, who also attended yesterday’s launch, explained that completing tax forms is not the most pleasant activity and therefore the government will do anything to make the process smoother and less troublesome for the general public.