Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 22, 2016 (SKNIS): A team of officials from the Revenue and the Treasury Departments in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are reviewing the workings of the Inland Revenue Department in St. Kitts and Nevis in a bid to strengthen their own collection structures.
Hilda Caley, Assistant Commissioner of Compliance in the Revenue Unit, is leading the team as they wrap up their April 17 to 22 visit in the Federation. She said the revenue and collection model in St. Kitts and Nevis was intriguing.
“We know that St. Kitts has implemented a lot of reforms over the years and they have been successful in their reforms and we are here to understudy, to actually learn their successes and experiences,” she stated. “We want to learn from the department’s audit section, compliance, taxpayer services, and legal.”
Ms. Caley hailed the experience, noting that the knowledge gained was quite useful. She mentioned an area of particular interest was how authorities deal with non tax filers.
“We basically have learned that we should be quick [in] these instances,” she said. “Call the taxpayer right away, let them know that we didn’t see you come to file, what is the reason that you didn’t come in, are you having problems?”
The assistant commissioner of compliance added that this personal touch was important in helping to get the “monies in the government coffers” and as such she will implement this upon her return to TCI.
Other members of the group included Carmaine Ariza, Ferique Bruce, Lekensay Missick, Khyla Callendar, Natasha Ewing, Brendalee Samuels and Nycaine Cunningham.
The visit is testament to the high regard officials in regional countries have for the efficiency of the St. Kitts-Nevis staff. It also is in keeping with the vision of Comptroller of Inland Revenue, Edward Gift, in having the department serve as a model of world class tax administration.