Guyana Revenue Authority: Organizational Development 2023
By - Navindra Prashad, Head – Planning and Analysis – GRA
The GRA continues to strengthen its tax administration efforts to optimize revenue collections, build internal capacity and fortify our legislation provide the legal wherewithal to execute our functions.
Revenue reports for 2023 shows incontrovertible evidence that the GRA is on the trajectory to achieve revenue targets for the fiscal year 2023, whilst the implementation of some key initiatives will augment the quality of our current service delivery to our taxpayers.
In September of 2023, Guyana commenced its fourth round mutual evaluation of Anti-money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism/Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/PF), by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. As a Supervisory Authority (SA) under Guyana’s AML/CFT Act of 2009, the GRA has a key role in ensuring that the country successfully exits the fourth round of mutual evaluation. In this regard, the GRA has successfully completed significant actions emanating from the country’s recent national risk based assessment; and continues to diligently discharge it SA functions.
Recent major developments include:
1. Functional re-organization
To remove a duplicate process, a pilot program was launched for a one-examination policy by Customs Officers at the wharves for vehicles imported, removing the requirement for a second examination at the Licence Revenue Office (LRO) examination site. The pilot program targets vehicles in the less than 1500 cc category.
2. Digital Services, Online Portals, Taxpayer education and Outreach
A dedicated unit was officially commissioned for E-services to promote the use the GRA’s online portal for the filing of tax returns for YA 2023. A number of collaborative exercises, both in person and online, were done with the E-service Unit and the Tax Advisory Unit to educate Taxpayers on the process. Electronic submissions increased by 3.5% from 2022.
3. Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
Efforts have been ongoing to expand and mine data of third party information received from external agencies and made available to our internal users, in particular, our Inland Revenue officers, by creating a comprehensive, multi-year spreadsheet with user friendly capabilities to cross with taxpayer’s voluntary submissions.
4. Performance Metrics
Following a hiatus in the Key Performance Assessment (KRA) used for by the Authority, efforts are being made to re-implement the performance appraisal for our staff. The process commenced with a questionnaire that was issued to all staff to determine the perception and challenges of the using the previous assessment system.
5. Collaboration with other Agencies-
To further trade facilitation, enhance efficiency and promote paper-less transactions, an Electronic Single Windows (EWS) Project for trade is being implemented by the Government of Guyana across fourteen (14) Agencies, with GRA as one of the central entities involved. The Project will integrate the procedures, information and requirements in the import-export regime.
6. Human Resource Development
Training continues to be critical for the staff of the Guyana Revenue Authority, especially in facilitating the operations of the rapidly expanding Oil and Gas Sector. Nineteen (19) trainees successfully completed the Customs Officer I Course, increasing the number of examining Officers within the Wharves & Boathouse Division. Additionally, a Customs Officer III training commenced February 6, 2023 and concluded on June 9, 2023; the last such course was conducted in 2018.
By - Navindra Prashad, Head – Planning and Analysis – GRA