Letters to the Editor
View(s):Left clueless about what the IRD wants
It was mid-November 2023 that a personalised letter from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) arrived for me. A picture of a smiling man looking through his car window adorned the colourful government institution envelope; a welcome pleasantry from the IRD.
For all this I do not fall within the taxable culprit range; very amusing. But I write this in the interest of my country and the wellbeing of the IRD.
It is said that every single person who has a fixed deposit or a vehicle registration has been posted this letter. As a cost saving measure printed versions of statements and bills are not sent these days from institutes such as banks, SLT, CEB etc. Then here comes the IRD doing just the opposite with a letter that does not even serve the purpose.
The letter inside the envelope said: “Please log into the IRD Tax Portal using your TIN together with the newly issued PIN within 45 days from the date of this notice”.
It went on to say –
“Please note that this is only a temporary PIN assigned and you will be required to change your PIN upon the first successful login to IRD Tax Portal.”
Well I have been a computer user for over 30 years, since the arrival of internet. But I was left clueless about what the IRD wants from me in this letter.
The Department assumes many things. That the reader knows:
- and has knowledge of English language
- that everyone is computer literate to understand jargon.
- what is a PIN number and why do I need it
- what it means by “IRD Tax Portal”
- what is an IRD Tax Portal and where is its address?
- what is this joke about TIN. How is one to know it is “Tax Identification Number”?
- that I am aware of the IRD’s venture to register all and sundry.
- when does the 45-day grace period start and end? The letter dated 13.10.23 arrived in November. The rumour is that postal strike delayed delivery.
Those who are computer savvy, I guess, will Google and find the IRD website and try to find the so-called IRD Tax Portal. I am 70 years and am still not senile. Finding this portal was not a cakewalk for me. I dialled 1944 and spoke to a lady whose level of patience was admirable. With the above mentioned points irking me I did criticise quite aggressively. Her knowledge of the subject was good. Perhaps she understood that my complaints were legitimate. She guided me through helping me register my TIN and new PIN.
I felt there were flaws in the computer programming too. It certainly is not user friendly. When you type your pin or password usually there is an option to review what you type. A button to make what you typed visible was not provided. So if a mistake is made while typing you will not see it.
My only concern is that the withholding tax on ‘fixed deposit’ is withheld by banks. Those earning less than Rs.1,200,000 per annum are not liable to pay withholding tax. But the banks will charge anyway. Using a specified form one has to ask for a refund. I received no letter from the IRD about this new procedure. If the depositor is not aware of this he stands to lose.
In fairness to the depositor, banks should revert to the old practice of sorting this out with the IRD rather than putting the onus on depositors.
Lawrence Fernando Via email
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