PRESS RELEASE

Inland Revenue Department exceeds performance targets

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The Inland Revenue Department has comfortably exceeded its targets in some performance areas while achieving most of its performance pledges in 2007-08.

Announcing this today (July 3), the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mrs Alice Lau said these results were pleasing.

Mrs Lau expressed her gratitude to taxpayers for their support and co-operation. She attributed the department's achievements to the dedicated efforts of her staff in providing effective services to taxpayers.

To further enhance the services, the department has introduced a new pledge in relation to processing applications for eTAX access codes from April.

"The Inland Revenue Department has set a 95% success rate target for issuing eTAX access codes within two working days after receiving applications," Mrs Lau said.

Registered users can have their annual dealings with the department conducted on the Internet at all hours: the receipt and filing of tax returns, the receipt and payment of the tax bill, and correspondence with the department, if needed.

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

At a presentation ceremony for the 14th Outstanding Customer Service Awards today, members of the Users' Committee presented prizes to 34 individual and group winners selected by taxpayers.

"A taxpayer's vote means support for the department and recognition of the quality service of the frontline staff, which motivates us to continually tax by the law and serve from the heart," Mrs Lau said.

The department's 2008-09 performance pledges and 2007-08 performance pledges 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/Thursday, July 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00

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