MONEY SPECIALIST

This is the time of year again where people earning more that RM30,000 per annum is required to declare income and make income tax payment for year 2007 to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). Since I did e-Filing last time for year 2006, I have no choice but to do the same again at the IRB website. The last day to submit e-Filing is on 30th April.
It is commendable when the IRB started the initiative letting the people to submit income tax returns online. IRB claimed that the online system is more consistent now, to which we are able to use our password from previous year, instead of requesting for a new one. Well, I’m still skeptical about how the system would be implemented smoothly. So we will see how it goes.

The thing that got me all worked up is that they claimed those who did e-filing with excess tax payment can expect money back by May 2007 since all the paperwork is online. Not surprisingly, they kept delaying the refunds citing all sorts of excuses.

Seeing some of my colleagues have already received their tax refund not too long ago, I began to have some hope towards the IRB. I called up in January to check on my tax refund status. Unluckily as I can be, my account has not been processed yet. The guy on the line said he would take note of it and ask me to call back in a month’s time to check again…

Then, two days ago, I called up again to check on the status. To my horror, my account is still not being processed yet. This time around, the girl on the line said she would inform the relevant party to process my tax refund. She took down my phone number. I wonder if it’s of any use at all. Without much assurance, I politely asked her to help me expedite the refund process. After thanking her, I hanged up the phone. IRB is such an @$$!

To those who are eligible for a refund for year 2006 but yet to receive anything, call the IRB in your neighbourhood to check on the status. To those in Penang, you can call up the Penang branch at 04-2612255 and ask to be connected to “Unit Pungutan” (Collection Unit).

Please prepare your income tax account number to make it easier for them to check. You must make things easier for them, as you never know how hard it can be for them to process an income tax refund with all the high-tech system that they are using. So this is what delivery improvement is all about for public service from the government.

UPDATE: Luck is finally on my side as I received a letter from IRB with a cheque dated 2nd April in it. That’s so unexpected. It took them about 2 weeks after my second complaint to process my tax refund. Good job anyhow.