The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) chief executive officer Visvanath Das launched the Compliance Improvement Strategy 2019-2021 at the FRCS headquarters yesterday.

Mr Das highlighted that the Compliance Improvement Strategy Outlines a road-map for us as an organisation to improve service delivery to our customers over the coming years.

“I am confident that our talented staff in partnership with our stakeholders will deliver on this strategy and that the goals that we aspire to will translate into change which we can all be proud of.”

The following sectors and segments have been selected for inclusion in this strategy:

• Customer Service
• Large & International
• Tourism
• Transport
• Construction
• VAT
• Customs Revenue
• Customs Compliance
• Border Security

Key message from Mr Das:

-At the same time, it conveys the key tax issues and compliance risks that we will be focusing on.

-Ultimately, we expect that delivery of this strategy will aid in building a healthier community and a stronger Fijian economy.

-The task of formulating the Compliance Improvement Strategy cascades off of our strategic planning processes.

That enables us to take stock of past successes and failures, both of which have informed the activities presented in this document. Through a variety of channels, a great deal of input has also been sourced from our customers.

-While we have traditionally been known as an Authority, in recent years we have committed to transitioning the entirety of our operations to a customer-centric approach.

-Our commitment is reflected throughout this strategy. In all of our work, we are striving to achieve a “world class” revenue service. This ongoing transformation is boldly moving forward on the shoulders of our talented staff.

-It is reflected in the foundational projects now underway, including implementation of a New Tax Information System and Electronic Fiscal Device system.

-While we invest a great deal of our time building services to promote voluntary compliance, we are also cracking down hard on Tax evasion.

Meanwhile, FRCS continues to improve its revenue collection year on year to support the Government and people’s aspirations of growing the economy.

Revenue and Customs has increased its overall revenue collection over the past years.

This is the direct result of voluntary compliance initiatives introduced by FRCS including the Whistleblower programme, internal reforms, stakeholder engagement, legislative changes, taxpayer education and increased public awareness.

Key highlights:

-Net revenue has increased by 33 per cent from 2014 to 2018.

-There was a gradual increase in customs revenue from 2014 to 2018.

However, VAT revenue has shown a vast decline in 2016 due to a decrease in the VAT rate from 15 per cent to 9 per cent. But it is gradually improving from 2017 to 2018.

Likewise for Income Tax, total revenue increased till 2017, but has declined by 8.5 per cent in 2018.

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj