PRESS RELEASE

(Source : Government Information Centre)

TeleTax is launched

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The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will launch TeleTax tomorrow (April 1) to provide the public with a wider range of taxpayer service and to offer the convenience of electronic services to those not accessible to similar services on the Internet.

The Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mrs Lau Mak Yee-ming, said that TeleTax operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Individual taxpayers can now use a touch-tone phone dialing 183 2088 to check their personal tax information, including tax return lodgement status, assessment status, charge payment status and tax reserve certificate account balances. They can also request duplicate returns or assessment notices, payment confirmations or tax reserve certificate account statements anytime, anywhere via the telephone.

To use the TeleTax, a taxpayer needs a "Taxpayer Identification Number" (TIN) and a password for authentication. Prior registration with the IRD is required. The IRD has been inviting registrations from taxpayers as users of TeleTax since August 2001. Notices have also been sent to the registered users informing them of their TINs and Access Codes.

Mrs Lau said, "In order to use the service, registered users should activate TeleTax by calling 183 2088 and inputting a password of their own choice within 3 weeks from the dates of their respective Access Code Notices."

"In implementing TeleTax, the IRD has made reference to the best practice adopted by the commercial sector for similar services so as to ensure that the system is a secure one. For maximum security, users should keep their own TINs and passwords in safe custody and renew their passwords at regular intervals."

With his TIN and password, a taxpayer can also enquire about his personal tax information on the Internet through the Interactive Tax Enquiry service under the Electronic Service Delivery Scheme (www.esd.gov.hk/finance/eng/index.asp). Such a service was formerly available only to those with digital certificates.

For taxpayers who have not yet registered as users of TeleTax, Mrs Lau invited them to do so immediately. "To register, simply complete the TeleTax registration form and send it to IRD by post or in person. For authentication purposes, a taxpayer should sign the registration form in the same way as he signed his last tax return. For security reasons, fax applications are not accepted," Mrs Lau added.

Registration forms can be obtained through downloading from IRD's website (www.info.gov.hk/ird), Fax-a-Form service on 2598 6001 or calling 187 8011. Taxpayers can also approach IRD by post or in person for the forms.

End/Sunday, March 31, 2002
 

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