GRA rolling out online tax payment this month

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) anticipates rolling out its online tax payment system sometime this month, and is currently engaging stakeholders.

“The initiative seeks to bring to the public a more convenient and faster payment option as the GRA moves to optimize the use of technology in its provision services, allowing tax payments to be done via the internet or telephone from the comfort of one’s home, office or other suitable location,” Khurshid Sattaur, commissioner-general of the GRA said in a press release.

The system, which is similar to what is already in place by several utility companies for electronic bill payments, will seek to promote several objectives, chief among them are to provide more convenience and security for clients who often crowd the agency’s Camp Street office as due dates approach. It will also relieve parking congestion.

Sattaur believes that the new system will be welcomed by all stakeholders since it will lessen the time customers and clients have to spend and promote security for taxpayers engaged in money transactions.

“I think this is a great breakthrough. Therefore, to be able to offer this service through the internet…we should be seeing a reduction in the number of persons visiting our office,” he said.

Early last year the commissioner-general, accompanied by representatives of the GRA’s Information Technology Department, engaged representatives of all local commercial banks on the online tax payment system. During these talks, the banks had agreed to work along with the GRA’s IT Department to have a Tax Payment feature added to the bank’s websites so that taxes could be paid online.

Additionally, taxpayers who may not be able to use the computer or telephone to transact business will be able to use the over-the-counter service of the nearest Bill Express location. The GRA will soon publish details of the obligations and requirements for persons using the systems, and the value limits for payments and relevant tax types for which payment can be made.