I am writing to protest about the shabby way that people who want to pay their taxes are treated. On Friday, June 23, I went to the Inland Revenue Department to ask for some information regarding part-time work and how it should be listed on the form.
At 9.15am my number was E14. The number on the screen was five. The waiting room was full of people waiting patiently. Soon I realised that my E14 meant a wait of 118 people because the five on the screen was from the letter D series. Like everyone else I was resigned to wait out the time and get my answers. I had already phoned the 153 ‘one-stop-service’ and got no help.
By 11am the number had crept up to 38. At 11.50am there was a power cut – no lights, no fans and no data. When I suggested work could continue with answering queries for people who needed only information, I was rudely shoved off.
The policewoman said she was in charge and everyone had to wait. At that point I and several others left, feeling disgusted and dazed.
By then, there were about 150 people waiting because the doors close at noon and those inside would be seen to. I heard the power came back at 12.30pm.
Are we sure we cannot get a better service than this? So many hours lost. A good number of young people had taken their day off to sort out their problems with the taxman. There were mothers with newborns and toddlers. The only reprieve was for people aged 75 and over and for pregnant women – good, but not enough.
A few pertinent questions need to be asked:
Why are there two people giving out tickets, but not one of them can answer simple, routine questions?
Why was the service so slow?
Why were forms sent out to pensioners so late in the year?
Why are not more trained people available to help with the overload of people?
Why are so many mistakes made every year by the employees at the Inland Revenue Department?
Surely something can be done to remedy the situation.