Treasury Department prepares to roll out Online Services for Island Businesses

The Treasury Department of the Isle of Man Government is gearing up for the rollout of Online Services that provide convenient, easy to use and secure access to Income Tax Division services for businesses. Following a pilot rollout that provides enquiry access, tax agents and companies have had the opportunity to register and go on-line to view their records. Over the next few months, this service will be extended to allow them to “transact” by submitting tax returns online for themselves and their clients. Employers, contractors and people making payments to third parties, such as rent, will also be able to make monthly payments via an online remittance card. Online submission of information will streamline existing processes for tax agents and companies and will also save Income Tax Division administration time and help to improve the accuracy of the information. There will also be a significant reduction in the volume of paperwork printed and posted by both the Income Tax Division and clients.

Malcolm Couch, Assessor of Income Tax, said:

“We are developing and delivering systems that will ultimately make it easier for people, companies and professional advisers to interact with the income tax system. The advisers who have helped us to test this first phase of Online Services have found it simple to use and of benefit to their practices and the tax affairs of their clients. In one case that we know of, the adviser has the service on permanently and uses it for many client queries; which speeds things up significantly and reduces phone calls to the Division”

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have already introduced full Online Services for Farmers to maintain their Cattle records and. Customs and Excise Division expect to follow soon with the ability to render and pay vat returns online

The Online Tax Service is the first in a series of Government Online Services. These services will improve the way citizens and businesses deal with the Isle of Man Government. The services will be organised around the needs of Citizens and Businesses. Government Online Services are the result of a 2 year collaboration between 3 Treasury Divisions (Income Tax Division, Customs and Excise Division and Information Systems Division) and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and use technology to join up rather than duplicate Online Services. Where ever possible shared services have been developed to make it easier for services citizens and businesses to learn the “one way” to do business online with any branch of Government.

Allan Paterson, Director of Treasury Information Systems Division, said:

“The development of these new Online Services is an outcome of the JUPITER Project using Microsoft technology as an enabler, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government services, reduce the cost of administration and, in the longer term, develop customer focussed service delivery”

Going forward, a unique benefit of Government Online Services will be the ability for a Citizen or Business to register once with the Isle of Man Government then “enrol” for multiple services that will become available from Government Departments, Statutory Boards and Offices.

Treasury Minister, Allan Bell, MHK commented

“Government faces the challenge of streamlining Government Services to ensure that the taxpayer gets the best value for money. By opening up the Online Services channel to support and enhance services to our key sectors, we can improve Government effectiveness and efficiency and start to release existing money to be redirected into essential front line services. In addition it will make the Island more attractive to the businesses who expect Government Online Services from modern jurisdictions in a competitive global marketplace”.

For further information please contact Andy Williams on telephone number 686226 or via email: Andy.Williams@gov.im