Kathmandu. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has launched a new version of the taxpayer portal with an aim to make taxpayer services more convenient and technology-friendly. The new system was brought into operation by the department from August 9.

Director General of the Department, Dr. According to Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, the old taxpayer portal will continue to operate simultaneously until the new portal is fully operational. The new system is based on design-driven development and micro-service architecture.

Taxpayers can download Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card, Excise Duty License and Tax Clearance Certificate through the new portal. Foreign investors can apply for PAN registration online. The facility of revision of Value Added Tax (VAT) details has also been added to the portal.

Earlier, even if there was a minor digitical error in the VAT statement, one had to go to the tax office to rectify it. Now, taxpayers can make the amendment online within seven days of submitting their return. The department hopes that this will reduce the congestion in the office and save time and expense of taxpayers.

Similarly, the taxpayer can now verify the monthly details submitted by the excise duty establishments themselves. Some details to be filled in Schedule 10 under the income return will also be automatically included in the system.

The department has also made the process related to tax deduction (ETDS) at source time-bound. According to the law, the ETDS has to be submitted within the 25th of every month, but some agencies have a tendency to withhold the amount till the end of the fiscal year.

According to Director General Bhusal, the new system will help control the possible changes in tax details and the entry of ‘back date’. Since the amount of tax withheld will be reflected in the system on time, taxpayers will be able to easily get information about where and how the deducted amount was deposited.

According to the Department, some technical problems may arise while using the new portal as it is in the testing phase. The Department is preparing to make the system more simple and effective on the basis of the suggestions received from the test. The Department has expressed the belief that the new system would make the tax administration transparent, technology-friendly and taxpayer-friendly as well as bring improvement in revenue collection.