20 April 2018
Work is nearing completion on the first design phase for the new Taxes Office computer software system.
Staff from Treasury and Social Security have been working with New Zealand-based supplier, DataTorque, since October, to scope requirements and ensure that the new revenue management system will meet Jersey’s requirements.
DataTorque is a specialist supplier of ‘off the shelf’ tax software and has been providing tax collection systems to small jurisdictions across the world for 24 years. The company has delivered systems to many similar-sized governments, including Swaziland and the Bahamas.
Comptroller of Taxes, Richard Summersgill, said “We awarded the contract to DataTorque in October 2017, and this first phase is on schedule and close to completion. We are on track for all staff to be using the new system from 2019 and for Islanders to be able to file online and receive automatic assessments in 2020.
“The system will also collect Social Security contributions, and has the capacity to collect other revenue streams in the future.”
The new system will simplify the process of filling in tax returns, as it will only ask questions relevant to each customer’s circumstances. It will also enable key elements of tax law to be modernised – for example, the way married women are currently taxed through their husbands.
DataTorque CEO, Bill Chatwin, said “We are proud to have secured this important contract with Jersey and to be working with the transformation team to deliver a state-of-the-art customer experience for the people of Jersey. The progress we have made during the detailed business requirements phase has been excellent and we look forward to the successful completion of this work.”
The Comptroller of Taxes added “Now that we are nearing the second phase of this project, we are preparing to share our plans with islanders. We will be holding public meetings in June to explain the steps to online filing, and to invite feedback on the way we plan to use the new system.”
Islanders and business representatives can register for the events in June by visiting the Revenue Jersey pages of the government website or by calling the Taxes Office on 440300 or Social Security on 445505.
Revenue Jersey
gov.je