SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPLAINTS SECTION IS TO DEAL WITH CASES IN WHICH TAXPAYERS' INITIAL ENQUIRIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT RECEIVED SATISFACTORY REPLIES. +WE ARE READY TO DEAL WITH ANY COMPLAINTS IN CONNECTION WITH INEFFICIENCY, DELAY OR
INCIVILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF+, SHE SAID. +MATTERS SUCH AS THE CORRECTNESS OR OTHERWISE OF AN ASSESSMENT ARE BEYOND THE SECTION'S JURISDICTION. THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE ITSELF PROVIDES SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS FOR SUCH GRIEVANCES TO BE RESOLVED BY LAW.+
LAST YEAR ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY TELEPHONE, ON 5-79595656, OR DURING A VISIT TO THE SECTION'S OFFICE ON THE 26TH FLOOR OF WINDSOR HOUSE. THE BALANCE CAME IN BY LETTERS.
OF THE 1 183 COMPLAINTS MADE LAST YEAR, ABOUT 60 PER CENT WERE RELATED TO SALARIES TAX, PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AND PROPERTY TAX MATTERS. OTHERS AROSE FROM PROFITS TAX, TAX COLLECTION AND OTHER RELATED AREAS.
REPORTS OF SUSPECTED TAX EVASION ARE ALSO RECEIVED AND THESE ARE REFERRED TO OTHER UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER
INVESTIGATION.
+WE SET OURSELVES A TARGET OF A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS TO COMPLETE EVEN THE MOST COMPLICATED CASE WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE CONSULTATION WITH SEVERAL OTHER SECTIONS, + SAID MRS TANG.
LESS COMPLICATED CASES, SUCH AS THOSE ARISING FROM MISUNDER- STANDINGS OF PROCEDURES OR OF THE LAW, ARE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.
+BUT A COMPLAINT IS NOT REGARDED AS FINISHED WITH EVEN AFTER THE PERSON CONCERNED HAS SAID THAT HE OR SHE IS SATISFIED WITH OUR REPLY, SHE SAID. +WE WILL LOOK INTO THE MATTER WITH CARE TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN MAKE TO THE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT'S WORKING PROCEDURES. IN THIS WAY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE FUTURE CAN HOPEFULLY BE MINIMISED.+
PATIENCE IS THE VITAL INGREDIENT IN THE WORK OF THE SECTION +COMPLAINTS COME FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDINGS OF TAX LAWS AND PROCEDURES DIFFER.+ SAID MRS TANG. +PATIENCE IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF TAX MATTERS.+
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