WILLEMSTAD - In the field of IT, finances, work processes, personnel, management, management, accountability and transparency, there is much to improve within the Tax Authorities of Curaçao. This is one of the conclusions of the recent tax organization audit.
According to the Minister of Finance, Javier Silvania, the Inspectorate of Taxes and Receiver of Curaçao scored very unsatisfactory in the audit. The purpose of the audit was to investigate how the Tax and Customs Administration can be professionalized.
The researchers, consisting of a team of representatives from government accounting firm SOAB, the Ministry of Finance and the Tax and Customs Administration of the BES (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba), formulated fourteen findings based on the assessment tool of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Conclusions
For example, it has been concluded that despite the fact that all elements of a tax authority are present, the service does not function as an (integral) tax authority. Moreover, the organization is not managed as an (integral) tax authority.
The management also scores below average. This is mainly limited to management based on presence and/or on outdated productivity standards.
Moreover, due to the separate organizational structure and the old way of thinking, most of the work in the offices is ad hoc. This ad hoc working means that it is not possible to tackle systematically and that backlogs continue to accumulate. Finally, improvements can be made in the area of independence (in treatment) and integrity, according to the researchers.
No quick fix
According to the researchers, it will not be easy to optimize the tax authorities of Curaçao. There is no quick fix that solves all problems in one fell swoop. “Tax reform will be a long road that will call on the stamina of all involved,” said the finance minister.
The study was conducted in the context of the National Package agreed with the Netherlands. Based on this report, an updated reform plan for the tax authorities will be written in February and March.