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Publications and Press Releases :
Press Release
: News Archives
Quality of IRD services unaffected by five-day
week
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The Inland Revenue Department
(IRD) will maintain the overall level and efficiency of services
following its implementation of the five-day week on July 1.
A spokesman for the department stressed
today (June 21) that the implementation of the five-day week would
not bring about any reduction in service hours and service standards
would remain unaffected. "We will ensure that our performance
pledges are met within the current timeframes," the spokesman
said.
He explained that in taking forward
the five-day week initiative, the IRD had reviewed all the services
and gone through the various ordinances administered by the department,
obtained legal advice and secured the blessing of the department's
Users' Committee. He said every endeavour would be made to minimise
the impact of the change on the public.
From July 1, the department will
extend its daily opening hours by 45 minutes on weekdays. The new
opening hours will be 8.15am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. All back
offices and enquiry counters, including the IRD Central Enquiry
Counter, the Business Registration Office and the Stamp Office,
will be closed on Saturdays.
"There is no need to visit
IRD in person," the spokesman said. "IRD offers a wide
range of e-services. Taxpayers can file their tax returns, enquire
about their personal tax position and pay tax through the Internet
or a touch-tone phone. Property documents can be stamped online.
Sole proprietors or business partners can apply for their business
registrations online too. Enquiries on business registration numbers
can also be made on the web. Closure on Saturdays will have little
impact on the public."
As well as the extension of office
hours on weekdays and the provision of e-services, the public can
make use of other existing channels to comply with the statutory
provisions following IRD's switch to a five-day week. These include
the dissemination of tax information on the IRD website or the 24-hour
Interactive Telephone Enquiry Service, the provision of a drop-in
box and a leave-and-call-back facility. The public can also make
payments at the Post Office or submit various applications by post.
For details of the department's five-day
week arrangements and e-services, please visit the department's
website (www.ird.gov.hk) or call the enquiry hotline 187 8088.
Ends/Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:31
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