SHILLONG: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council is on course to leap-frog in to digitalised system of tax collection which would not only be user-friendly but also help plugging leakages.
Executive Member in-charge of Taxation department Paul Lyngdoh informed that local indigenous firms within Khasi Hills had offered their services for the computerisation of the department.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, he said that there are interested parties that have come forward to offer the PowerPoint presentation and introduce a pilot project for computerisation that includes training the staff.
“The training will make them techno savvy and computer literate and minimise the time to pay and minimise human interface”, he said.
It may be mentioned that Lyngdoh had previously discussed on measures to improve the functioning of the department. The KHADC department of Taxation implements the Meghalaya Professions, Trades, Callings and Employment Taxation Act.
He informed that he has spoken to the EM in-charge of IT so as to enhance internet connectivity in Council and also in district offices.
“Before the end of the financial year, we will be able to transform the department and expect to improve the revenue generation of the Council”, he said.
Pointing out that the revenue loss of the Council may come to 60-65 per cent due to irregular payment of professional tax by the tax payers, Lyngdoh said that reforms would bring about a substantial jump in revenue collection.
“If in the first year we are able to computerise and introduce online payment then we can expect the percentage of tax evasion will come down substantially”, Lyngdoh said.