In his meeting with businessmen and businesswomen in Asharqia Chamber yesterday, Governor of Zakat and Tax said, "We seek more partnership and cooperation with the private sector."
Several initiatives were carried out by "Zakat and Tax", as the satisfaction of the taxpayers is the most prominent motivator
On Sunday 16/12/2018, Asharqia Chamber hosted His Excellency the Governor of the General Authority for Zakat and Tax, Engineer Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi, in the presence of the Chairman of the Chamber Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi.
The meeting was moderated by the Chamber's Vice-President Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Boali.
His Excellency the Governor of the General Authority for Zakat and Tax, Engineer Suhail bin Mohammed Abanmi, said that the Authority has begun to develop a number of strategic initiatives that have been implemented to address all the observations and visions that expressed by the strategic partner, the private sector.
He added that the Authority looks forward to the cooperation of the private sector to provide views and observations that serve the main objective of the development of the strategy, as it is of great importance to the Authority.
He praised the cooperation of the private sector in the application of value added tax, which has a commitment rate of about 95% and this is a sign of awareness of this sector and its interaction.
His Excellency the Governor explained that the duties of the Authority in accordance with its organization is to collect Zakat and collect taxes from the establishments in accordance with the relevant regulations and instructions, and provide high quality services to the establishments to assist them to fulfill their duties, follow-up facilities, take the necessary measures to ensure the collection of receivables owed to them, to work to raise awareness of the enterprises and strengthen the degree of voluntary commitment, ensure compliance with the instructions issued by the Authority, controls in the field of competence, the cooperation and exchange of experiences with regional and international bodies and organizations and specialized expertise houses inside and outside the Kingdom within the limits of the Commission's competence, and represent the Kingdom in regional and international organizations, bodies, forums and conferences relevant to the Authority's works.
As for the Authority's efforts in raising awareness of the establishments and their cooperation with them, His Excellency the Governor stated that the Authority has held 30 meetings and interviews in order to benefit from accumulated experience and benefit from the specialists.
It also has conducted field tours, and a questionnaire that resulted in 74% of the taxpayers satisfied with the performance of the Authority, as well as a number of workshops that brought together senior taxpayers and accounting firms.
It has prepared 31 manuals, 700 illustrations, and 41 workshops were held, a communications center was launched, a comprehensive service hall has been launched in Riyadh and Dammam and is working to launch a third lounge in Jeddah to facilitate services to taxpayers.
He pointed out that the Authority is in the light of its continuing with the taxpayers and their assessment of the status quo.
It initiated the collection of data from the taxpayers and liaison with the relevant authorities, the development and implementation of the screening process, capacity-building and procedures for the selection of risk, development and implementation of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, and developing processes, techniques and activities required to apply VAT.
The General Authority for Zakat and Tax is always involved in the involvement of the stakeholders, so it initiated the establishment of the voice platform of the client to collect views and observations, the launch of mobile awareness teams, the establishment of management focused on educating taxpayers and organizing Zakat and Tax conferences.
He explained in this regard that the Authority has seen many of our previous experiences, as we started where the others ended in the areas of achievement, commitment, digitization, internal structure, and registration of taxpayers.
It has seen several experiences in different countries including America, Singapore, Britain, South Africa and Malaysia.
For his part, Al-Boali said, "Our government has paid great attention to the diversification of national income that it placed at the top of the objectives of Vision 2030, which represented a new starting point in the development and sustainability of the national economy."
He emphasized the role of all sectors and agencies, including the Zakat sector, and the importance it attaches to building the structure of the national economy for its various economic and social benefits.
He added that since the conversion of «Zakat and Tax» to be « a public body », it is witnessing a rapid start towards joining the national income streams.
It has given it the full opportunity to develop its systems and means, as do developed economies, where the tax system represents the bulk of its resources.
The meeting witnessed a heavy presence by business men and women.
At the end of the meetin,g the Vice-President Hamad Al-Boali, honored the Governor of the General Authority for Zakat and Tax, Eng. Suhail Abanmi with a commemorative shield..
