Commission using SMS on small business taxpayers

IN a latest drive to communicating tax messages to taxpayers using technology, the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) has taken on board the use of SMS (short message service) to small business taxpayers.
The small business tax law, an initiative of the Government, was passed by Parliament in 2019 through amendments to the Income Tax Act 1959.
It came into force in June.
The tax is to reduce the compliance burdens of micro and small businesses, and to attract them into the formal environment.
Since then, the IRC has held workshops and awareness campaigns around the country on the benefits of the tax.
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) and its ongoing threats and restrictions disrupted to the continuity of the awareness campaign.
The IRC is now joining organisations and tax administrations around the world by embracing new technology through digitisation and stepping up in communication using electronic means to interact with taxpayers.
“We are progressing to the path of one day becoming paperless,” it said.
“Meetings with stakeholders are run virtually and communication with taxpayers is email-based.
“Our latest drive is to use the mobile phones to communicate with taxpayers.
“The IRC has started using SMS messaging to contact registered small business taxpayers who do not have access to emails.
“This approach is based on the feedback received during the awareness that most small businesses prefer communication through text messaging.
“The SMS is to remind small business taxpayers of the due dates for tax payment.
“Due date for filing and payment is the 28th of the following month after the end of each quarter.”