Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Dr. Natalio Wheatley has announced that the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration System (SIGTAS 3.0) is scheduled to go live by the end of September.

Premier Wheatley in a statement at the House of Assembly on September 7 said, “Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be able to update this Honourable House on a major milestone for our tax administration system in the Virgin Islands which is targeted to go live by the end of this month.”

Premier Wheatley added, “The SIGTAS 3.0 upgrade is a significant milestone for the Virgin Islands as it will enable the Territory to further introduce a state of the art medium to improve our tax administration efficiency and effectiveness, as well as to provide better service and value to our taxpayers. It also ushers in a new era for allowing taxpayers greater access and flexibility for online payments via the Government’s e-payment gateway.”

He also mentioned some of the enhancements and benefits derived from utlising the new system.

The new system will feature an improved user-friendly interface and navigation, which makes it easier to navigate and perform various tasks. It will also integrate online services, enabling clients to register, file, pay and communicate with the Department of Inland Revenue electronically, saving the taxpayer, time and hassle.

Additionally, taxpayers will be guaranteed enhanced security and data protection, ensuring that confidential information is safeguarded and compliant with international standards; increased automation and integration; and expanded functionality and flexibility, allowing for additional customisation and configuration options to suit the specific needs and preferences of the Virgin Islands tax system.

Premier Wheatley said “The system is web-based, which means clients can access it from any device with an internet connection, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone; and it has improved reporting and analytics, which allows us to generate more accurate and timely reports and statistics on tax performance and compliance.”

To date, the following phases have been completed:

1. D2- Application Deployment, which included User Acceptability Training and Production;
2. D3- Technical Upgrade which included SIGTAS Core Modules; and
3. D6- E-tax Delivery which included e-Registration, e-Tax, and e-Payment

Premier Wheatley also indicated that the final phases of the project will involve the training and support of the end users, in addition to the launch and operation of the system. To ensure optimal performance, evaluation and the resolution of technical issues will be a major focus.

The Inland Revenue Department is currently in the final stages of testing the following modules:  1) financial statements; 2) payroll; and 3) opening balances. These three modules will complete the full cadre of services to modernise the tax payment process and are on track for the live launch date by the end of this month.

SIGTAS is the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration System, a software solution that helps governments manage its tax revenue and compliance. It is presently utilised by over 30 countries around the world, including the British Virgin Islands. SIGTAS 3.0 is the latest version of the system, which offers several new features and enhancements that will benefit both the tax authorities and the taxpayers.

Premier Wheatley is imploring all relevant persons and organisations to register, as new unique Tax Identifier Numbers (TIN) are now being assigned and is necessary for the full launching of this system.

In keeping with its commitment to upgrade the tax system in the Virgin Islands, Central Government has deployed a team of experts at the Inland Revenue Department to assist taxpayers with the registration process.

Taxpayers are required to provide a valid passport or driver’s licence, along with their Social Security card, and an email address to register. Online registration is also available at http://www.eregisterfortax.gov.vg.

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains resolute in the promotion of the overall development of the Territory through commitment and sustainable transformation.