IGT Reaches Out to Punters to work Out Where to Go
The Inspector-General of Taxation (IGT), Ali Noroozi, has announced that he will now consult the public to develop his new work program for 2014 and beyond, inviting all interested parties to have a say. “My work program seeks to target areas that potentially provide the greatest improvement to tax administration for all Australians by consulting publicly and widely with taxpayers, tax professionals and their representatives,” Mr Noroozi said.
“I invite you to have your say in how administration of the tax system may be improved. I’m seeking the broadest engagement practicable. I will consider all the issues raised and review matters with the most potential for making tax administration fairer, simpler, more transparent or more efficient,” Mr Noroozi said.
As part of the consultation process, you may make submission on any systemic issues that you have observed from your recent interactions with the ATO. You may also wish to comment on potential review topics which have either been raised by stakeholders over the previous year or have emerged from the conduct of previous IGT reviews. These potential review topics include whether:
- a taxpayer bill of rights with enforceable remedies for inappropriate ATO conduct is needed or whether the currentTaxpayers’ charter and compensation schemes provide sufficient taxpayer protection;
- the ATO’s approach to debt collection is appropriate, including whether it sufficiently considers taxpayers’ and third party creditors’ viability, both in terms of disputed debt and collectable debt;
- the ATO’s support for tax practitioners is adequate, including its approach to differentiated lodgement programs, electronic lodgement, payment and advice systems access;
- the ATO’s approach to test case litigation and funding arrangements allow taxpayers to conduct their case appropriately, including appeals on adverse decisions to a higher court;
- the ATO’s application of the general anti-avoidance rules (GAAR) is appropriate, including the management of relevant evidence, case selection, cost-benefit analysis, reputational impacts, internal decision making and also the level of the GAAR Panel’s independence;
- the ATO’s administration of the product ruling system is appropriately managed and accessible to taxpayers;
- the ATO’s audits of employer obligations, such as fringe benefits tax and PAYG withholding, supports and delivers appropriate, accurate, timely, consistent and transparent decisions;
- the ATO’s approach to information security sufficiently ensures data integrity and safeguards against cyber attacks and identity fraud;
- the ATO’s audits of not-for-profit organisations adequately considers their arrangements, exemption status and tax deductibility for donations received; and
- the ATO’s corporate quality assurance process (Integrated Quality Framework) is effective in identifying improvement opportunities and management’s effectiveness in delivering required change.
“I encourage taxpayers, tax professionals and their representative bodies to comment on the suitability of the above topics as well as raising any other topics arising from their interaction with the ATO,” Mr Noroozi said.
For More information please call the office on 1300 788 491
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