Review of TAMIS system underway

A decision has not been made yet on whether the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) will continue to use the Tax Administration Management Information System (TAMIS).

BRA’s Revenue Commissioner Louisa Lewis-Ward today said while a list of issues associated with the software had been itemized discussions had not reached an advanced stage on if it would be replaced.

“We haven’t had that level of dialogue around the TAMIS system. What we do have is a listing of issues, problems, and some things are right in the TAMIS system as well. So we have a listing of everything we need to address within the system and certainly, we will be taking a look at that listing. The directors are taking a look at it in earnest to see how far we can go to rectify some of the issues which caused taxpayers discomfort in the system.

“The system did cost quite a pretty penny and therefore, it’s not an easy decision to make to throw the baby out with the bath water. We’ve just moved from one system to another…and the TAMIS system was supposed to be the technological replacement, so we will take a look at the system in earnest. We will look at the things like the automation of the land tax system, some of the other funds need to go in an automated platform as well, and perhaps we use TAMIS for that, perhaps we do not, but certainly, we are conducting a detailed review at this point,” Lewis-Ward said.

Just over a month ago Prime Minister Mia Mottley said Government was strongly considering abandoning TAMIS because it had been plagued with problems from its inception in 2018.

While speaking during debate on the 2021/2022 Estimates Mottley said $2.1 million had been set aside for the maintenance of TAMIS.

The online tax system was introduced by the former Democratic Labour Party administration and was officially rolled out on June 1, 2018, less than a month after the Barbados Labour Party was elected into office.

Mottley said while TAMIS was intended to make it easier for persons and businesses to file and pay their various taxes, it constantly had issues.

“The Government will have to make a determination as to whether we want to continue if we can’t renegotiate on proper terms, whether we will remain with a noose around our necks or whether we will get rid of that noose and try to start again with something that makes sense for our circumstances,” the Prime Minister said at the time.
(RB)