The St. Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department’s (SKNIRD) new and modernised tax administration system, SMARTS (Smart Modernised Administration for Revenue and Taxation System), is now live and available to offer more simplified and efficient services to taxpayers.
SMARTS is being administered through the My Government Portal, which essentially serves as a central hub. The new system offers online tax filing and payment; real-time updates on tax transactions; enhanced security and data privacy; simplified taxpayer information management, as well as convenient access to tax forms and documents.
SMARTS was officially launched during a brief ceremony held at the department’s office on the Bay Road on Monday, February 05. Addressing the ceremony, Comptroller, Inland Revenue Department, Edward Gift said the new system represents a leap towards achieving their goals of making tax filing simpler and more accessible.
“This transition to a digital platform is a critical step in our ongoing efforts to improve taxpayers’ satisfaction, thereby contributing to our goal of a sustainable island state and the ease of doing business in our Federation,” said Mr. Gift.
Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Hilary Hazel, commended the innovation and technological advancement that has taken place within the Inland Revenue Department which has led to the positive transformation of revenue collection for the country.
“We have had in the past three leaders of innovation and introduction of digital services to the Government and they are all in the Ministry of Finance. It is the Inland Revenue Department, Customs and Excise Department and the Treasury and I would say once the [SMARTS system is launched] Inland Revenue would be out front,” said Mrs. Hazel, while challenging everyone to lead the way, emphasising the importance of their contributions to technology and innovation in alignment with the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Island State Agenda.
SMARTS is being rolled out in a phased-approach to allow customers time to adjust and become familiar with the new system. The tax services available now are Value Added Tax (VAT), Corporate Income Tax, Unincorporated Business Tax, Business Licences and Liquor Licences.
It is expected that property taxes and stamp duties will become active on SMARTS in March of this year, with all other taxes becoming active by August 2024.
To access SMARTS, taxpayers and other stakeholders are asked to click on the “My Government Portal” on the Inland Revenue Department’s website at www.sknird.com