THE EDITOR, Sir:BY LETTERS to the press including one to The Sunday Gleaner published on April 20, 2003, I drew attention to the fact that refund of income tax had been due to me for several years going back to 1990. I complained that efforts to collect it had failed.
As a result of the publication of this matter the Standards and Monitoring Unit of the Cabinet Office intervened, contact was made with me by the Taxpayer Audit and Assessment Department, the refunds were assessed in batches and I received the amounts due to me by four different cheques the last being on October 1, 2003. Much of the delay was caused by the inability of the authorities to find some of the returns and documents filed by me for which I had receipts. Fortunately for me I was advised many years ago by an employee of the Income Tax Department that documents frequently disappeared after they were filed and being by nature a very good record keeper I was able to supply the Taxpayer Audit and Assessment Department with copies from my files.
Attempts to ascertain from the Director-General of Tax Administration the reason for the scandalous and unreasonable delay in making refunds (which, incidentally do not attract interest) have been met with stony silence. This is the typical response of too many king-pins in the Civil Service when confronted with evidence of incompetence.
I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mrs. Jennifer MacLeavy and Miss Michele Brown from the Standards and Monitoring Unit of the Cabinet Office and Mr. Lennox Fraser of the Taxpayers Audit and Assessment Department. It might well be that they were only doing their duty but nowadays that is sufficient reason for acknowledgement.
I would like to thank The Sunday Gleaner for publishing my letter. This triggered a response and resulted in my receiving the refunds due to me.
Finally, I would advise taxpayers to keep copies of all returns and supporting documents filed by them with the Inland Revenue Department to protect themselves if the documents filed disappear. It is quite clear that the law, practice and administration relating to witholding tax are in need of fundamental reforms - but more anon.
I am, etc.,
BERESFORD HAY
Kingston 8
