The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has set up an intelligence and risk management unit to monitor the flow of information it receives from the public on tax evasion, among other issues as part of a new practical strategy.

The authority plans to effectively tackle issues affecting revenue collection such as corrupt transactions and smuggling with the initiation of the unit and a hotline number.

GRA informed of the unit in an advertisement published in the daily newspapers on Monday that encouraged the public to cooperate with the revenue body.

“The initiative is meant to streamline the systems that were already in place facilitating contact between the GRA and the public… what we are aiming for is to strengthen the relationship and avert tax evasion,” Senior Communications Officer at GRA, Marcia Harris said.

Harris said the unit will perform the function of supplying critical information to various departments of the GRA, and also serve as a link between law enforcement and the revenue body. She noted that there might be instances where the police would have to be alerted.

The unit had initially been established last year, Harris said, adding that it was set up under the Guyana Threshold Country Plan implementing project. The project is a government project that is targeting selected agencies.

Harris referred to the unit as an “action unit” that will facilitate a more proactive approach to tax evasion. She explained that the GRA intends to closely monitor every telephone call in keeping with its strict confidentiality principles, and follow through with every complaint thoroughly.

“Outside of the routine audits we would go into the fields and do an audit after a discrepancy is detected… there is scope now to go in after the unit would have thoroughly processed the complaint and determined its legitimacy,” she added.

Since tax evasion remains of critical concern to GRA, Harris said that they are hoping the unit effects a positive change.

She said too that they are counting on the public to be vigilant and to report corrupt practices to the revenue body provided there are legitimate concerns.