TODAY.AZ / Business

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammadov: Expansion of the application of e-services is a part of fight against corruption

09 June 2011 [14:30] - TODAY.AZ
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Taxes, Second-grade state tax adviser Fazil Mammadov gave interview in connection with Azerbaijani President’s decree on "Some measures for the organization of e-services provided by state bodies".
What duties does the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s decree on "Some measures for the organization of e-services provided by state bodies" set in front of state bodies?

Within 10 years, "The National Strategy on Information and Communication Technologies for Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2003-2012)" signed by the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev on February 17, 2003, have determined priority duties in application of modern information technologies in Azerbaijan. By taking the realities of globalization period into account, the idea on establishment of e-government to provide flexible and improved management for the first time was put forward as one of the important topics even in that document. Information and communications technology play an important role in realization of modern and flexible management, providence of transparency in the activity of state bodies, providence of citizens with qualitative services. E-services give opportunity to increase effectiveness and quality of mutual relations between the state body and citizen, as well as to prevent corruption and bureaucracy.

In accordance with the concept of sustainable development determined by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani government carried out a number of works on use of achievements of modern technologies and application of progressive international experience in all spheres of the management. Several state bodies, as well as the Taxes Ministry began to implement the services shown to citizens by using the electronic means. Electronic databases have been established. But all of these are just the beginning of big works to be done and of course, the last decree of the president will stimulate the improvement and expediting of showing of e-services provided by state bodies. The task determined by the decree demand to make serious changed in showing of e-services. I think that this decree corresponds the current level of development of our country. And its fulfillment will allow to raise the state management system at the modern standards level.

On the other hand, expansion of application of e-services must be assessed as a part of systematized reforms in struggle sphere against corruption. Because e-services help to increase transparency in the activity of state bodies by decreasing contact with citizens. Undoubtedly, it is very effective mechanism in the field of struggle against corruption.

The Taxes Ministry is considered as one of the leading state bodies in the sphere application of e-services in Azerbaijan. What can you say about the works carried out in this direction?

Application of modern technologies is an important part of systematized reforms in the field of modernization of tax system and improvement of tax administration. Today, several projects applied by the Taxes Ministry in e-services sphere are appreciated by the international organizations. Especially, I would like to note the application of Automated Tax Information System (ATIS), established in 2006. This system allowed all structure of the Taxes Ministry to storage and process the data in common information space, provided electronic document turnover and operative information exchange. At present, the document turnover of the Taxes Ministry has been totally electronicized. ATIS allowed us to apply the most modern experiences existing in e-services sphere.

One of the biggest state portals of our country - Internet Tax Department portal of the Taxes Ministry was established in 2007. Thus, the declarations started to be sent electronically. This system allows taxpayers to prepare a declaration by special programs, keep the in e-form and view the private papers of taxpayers real-time mode. In general, the time for preparing a declaration and sending it to the tax organs has been decreased by 3 times. In a short time, the number of taxpayers using e-declaration has increased significantly. According to outcomes of 2010, 90% of declarations received by the Taxes Ministry have been sent in e-form. For comparison I may say that, either in the CIS and in the Eastern Europe countries this indicator is in the framework of 60-75%.

In 2010, application of electronic tax invoices started in Azerbaijan. This itself is a serious step taken in e-tax services and we are one of the first countries in the post soviet space, which applied this system. Application of electronic tax invoices decreased not only paper turnover and loss of time, but also it prevented the attempts to use false invoices.

In 2010, we presented one more e-service to taxpayers. “Online clerical work” system allows citizens to correspond with state body electronically. We created personal electronic mailbox for each taxpayer on www.e-taxes.gov.az website of the Ministry. It is system like e-mail and by its help, taxpayers may obtain any information about the tax system. Document turnover, single registration of documents and operative processing of payers’ appeals has quickened. In general, currently, 46% of applications considered for entrepreneurship is presented in e-form.

Within framework of the reform in VAT administration sphere, starting of application of VAT deposit accounts allowed total electronization of tax system in this sphere. Application of A single VAT deposit account made opportunity to prevent tax evasion on VAT, at the same time, decreasing administrative burden on VAT of taxpayers. According to our assestments, as a result of the application of this system VAT payers got more than AZN 61 mln funds so far. This system caused the interest of several institutions and tax administrations of other countries.

The application of “single window” principle in our country justified itself. Started under the appropriate decree of the president and being an important part of e-services, this project was highly assessed by the international organizations as well. This process, started in 2008, was improved during the past period by the application of several new services. According to opinion of the international experts, as a result of the application of this system, the administrative expenses spent by the registered persons decreased by AZN 19 mln.

We try to increase the number of payers using e-services. 27 service terminals were launched in the regions, where internet is not used. And it allows taxpayers, as well as each citizen to use e-services free of charge.

The appropriate decree of the president set important duties in front of the state bodies. Which contributions does the Taxes Ministry intend to make in fulfillment of these duties and at the same time, in extension of e-government project in future?

Issues arising form the decree have been widely discussed at the board of the Taxes Ministry and concrete plan of measures had been affirmed for their implementation. I would like to note the implementation of state registration of individuals and commercial legal entities electronically, on “single window” principle. At present, serious work is carried out on this project. We intend to start this process in the near future.

Within 2011, we will provide the improvement of activity of special electronic service department at the official internet information reserves and extension of services via the portal.

For the purpose of provide wide use of e-services for citizens, we intend to improve the activity of service terminals, extend spectra of shown services, becoming of these terminals into e-service centers of taxpayers.

One of the very important projects aims to provide the payment of taxes in real-time mode in e-form. Soon, taxpayers in Azerbaijan will have a chance to use electronic payment via the internet portal of Taxes Ministry. It is very important issue and based on the experience of the leading countries of the world.

At present, our experts work on another important project – investigation of application opportunities of beforehand filling system of tax declarations by the tax bodies. Firstly, it is considered to apply this system in the field of VAT declarations. The essence of the system: the existing documents are filled by the tax organs prematurely and sent to taxpayer. And he/she considers this e-declaration. Either affirms it, or presents relevant arguments to tax organ. Thus, the taxpayer’s work becomes easier.

One of the forthcoming issue is the application of e-audit system within 2-3 years. Th realization of Twinning project on application of e-audit has already started by the financial support of the EU and by the participation of the experts of Dutch Tax Administration. For this purpose, the proposals related to making appropriate amendments in the legislation have been prepared.

One of the main issues is to provide total integration and improvement of interorganizational information systems for use of e-information resources conducted between the state bodies.

The Taxes Ministry have determined very serious targets in electronization of tax control and carries out in this direction purposeful and systematic measures. By increasing the achievements got in the application of information technologies, we will try to extend the variety of e-services shown to taxpayers, effectively use all opportunities for fulfillment of the tasks set by the head of state in connection with the establishment of e-government in time.


/APA/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/business/87869.html

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