KUCHING: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) will work hard to ensure the government’s tax collection system is well administered in a transparent, effective and customer-friendly approach.
Saibun (right) presenting a souvenir to Josephine for officiating the National Tax Seminar 2014 held at a hotel here yesterday. — Photo by Tan Song Wei.
IRB chief executive officer Tan Sri Mohd Shukor Mahfar said the government’s tax collection agency is tasked to carry out its obligation professionally in an environment which is favorable for its customers to interact with them.
“IRB plays a very significant role in the government coffers as a leading contributor to the nation’s revenue.
“As such, it is our utmost priority to ensure that the direct tax collected fulfills the target set by the government.
“At the same time, it has to explore the various avenues to ensure that our customers can transact with us in a conducive and favourable manner in fulfilling their tax obligations.
“There’s no denying that this large amount of revenue collection towards the federal coffers when combined with revenue collection from other revenue agencies goes to the fund much of the government’s expenditures.
“Hence, IRB will continuously strive to plan systematically and meticulously to achieve a sophisticated tax administration and operational system which is transparent, effective and customer friendly,” he said in his text speech read by IRB Sarawak State director Datin Josephine John at National Tax Seminar 2014 held at a hotel here yesterday.
He added the tax seminar provides an important platform to enhance the level of tax literacy for the community.
He observed that a continuous and steadfast effort will ensure a community be more focus in increasing their tax knowledge and keeping abreast of the latest tax developments.
“A high level of tax literacy will ensure a community of responsible taxpayers who are fully aware of their tax obligations such as reporting the correct amount of income and paying their taxes on time.
“This will of course increase the level of voluntary tax compliance which will ultimately increase the government’s tax revenue,” he noted.
Meanwhile, he urged participants at the seminar to use the opportunities available to seek further clarifications from the speakers on the latest tax developments as well as raised relevant questions relating to Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will be implemented on April 1, 2015.
He also pointed out that the seminar was held for the first time in collaboration with the Royal Customs Department with discussion on the topic of ‘GST and Income Tax’.
Also present at the seminar were deputy state financial secretary Datu Laura Lee, IRB Kuching branch director Saibun Salam, Royal Malaysian Customs Department senior assistant director customs I Muhamad Yunus Hanuar and chairman of the organising committee Total Diah as well as more than 600 participants who are from professional bodies and the tax fraternity.