Property owners told to pay tax through new app
THE General Department of Taxation (GDT) has told all property owners to pay their taxes using the GDT Taxpayer App, which saves them the trouble of having to go there in person.
In a notice on March 11, the GDT said payment of taxes with the app is a more convenient, transparent means of tax collection and part of efforts to modernise the IT system in the tax sector in line with the government’s reform policy.
“This app will make it easier for property owners to check information on registered properties and make all updates in the GDT’s property data management system. They pay their annual tax without having to fill in forms or tax declaration letters.
“It also saves time because they don’t need to go to branches of the GDT in the provinces and districts where their property is located to verify receipts of tax payment.
“They will also receive other notifications on this app such as [reminders about] dates of declaring tax, tax payment expiry, announcing some tax payments in the fiscal year and other notifications associated with this type of tax,” the notice said.
GDT director-general Kong Vibol said in the notice that to be able to use the app, property owners can download and install it directly by searching for the name “GDT Taxpayer App”.
After the app is installed, new property owners have to create user accounts by associating them with one of their ID cards, passports, emails, phone numbers or tax identification numbers and then creating a password to use the app.
“Property owners have to enter their property information by using the property identification numbers and their phone numbers which were registered or updated in the property data management system of the GDT. Property owners can then pay taxes online through commercial banks in partnership with the GDT,” he said.
Vibol added that the app can be used only for properties which are registered with information that has been updated in the property data management system. In cases where the app cannot be used, property owners have to obtain or update their information at the GDT or tax branches in their provinces and districts.
San Chey, executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, welcomed the move. But he said while it is good timing for the GDT to roll out the online platform given the Covid-19 situations, he urged an establishment of procedures that allow for simultaneous property registration and tax payment.
“As far as I know, property registration has not been made possible online yet. If that is the case, then we want property registration and tax payment to be made at the same time,” he said.
Chey explained that enabling property owners to register and pay tax simultaneously will suit their convenience given the rapidly increasing number of property registration and the community outbreak of Covid-19.