PRESS RELEASE

Inland Revenue Department excels in targeted performances

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The Inland Revenue Department has excelled in some targeted performances while achieving most of its pledges in 2006-07.

Announcing details of the department's performance in 2006-07, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mrs Alice Lau, said today (June 28) the results were particularly encouraging in the light of the compressed pledged time for delivering the services under a five-day week.

Expressing her gratitude to taxpayers, Mrs Lau said their support and encouragement had always been a key driver behind the department's pursuit of continuous improvement of services to the public.

She also attributed the department's achievements to the dedicated efforts of her staff in providing high quality services to taxpayers.

"To further improve the quality of our services, we have enhanced the service levels of three pledged items from April this year," Mrs Lau said.

The performance target for processing Property Tax Returns and Composite Tax Returns within six months has increased from 80% to 85%. The target for issuing receipts for tax payments made by electronic means had increased to 99%.

Since July last year, the department had shortened the time for processing simple written enquiries to reply within seven working days with the enhanced standard being achieved.

Mrs Lau also thanked members of the Inland Revenue Department's Users' Committee, an independent body comprising professionals and academics, for the contributions they made in monitoring the department's performance against its pledges.

At a presentation ceremony for the 2007 Outstanding Customer Service Awards held today, members of the Users' Committee presented prizes to 43 individual and group winners selected by taxpayers.

"A taxpayer's vote means support and encouragement, which motivates us to continually enhance service," Mrs Lau said.

The department's 2007-08 performance pledge and 2006-07 performance pledge annual report are available on the website at www.ird.gov.hk. Copies are also available for collection at Inland Revenue Department at Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong and the Public Enquiry Service Centres of District Offices.

Ends/Monday, June 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:00

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