Background

The Solomon Islands Government Inland Revenue Division’s modernisation of the tax system project involves the digitisation of the Government Revenue Management System, vastly transforming the tax and payment landscape in the Solomon Islands.  The project, which was formally launched in August 2017, will result in the end-to-end automation of the receipt, assessment, payment and reimbursement of all tax types for both, corporate and individual taxpayers of the Solomon Islands.

The main objective of the assignment is to develop and review strategies and taxpayer-related awareness media and material to onboard taxpayers to the modernised tax payment and tax system for the Solomon Islands.  These strategies and taxpayer-related awareness media and materials must be developed cognizant of the different categories of Solomon Islands taxpayers and tax agents that interact with the tax system.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The following are the tasks identified for this activity:

  1. The activity firstly covers the review and strengthening of existing strategies to onboard 200 corporate taxpayers, 15 tax agents, small businesses and individual taxpayers to use the modernised tax system for the purposes of submission, responses on assessments and queries, payment and related matters for Goods Tax, Sales Tax, Pay as You Earn (PAYE), Income Tax and Withholding Tax and should include the identification of the optimal channels for communication with these. A specific area of focus is on the small businesses and individual taxpayers.

  2. Secondly, the activity involves the development of, review and finalisation of a suite of customer and awareness materials and programmes pertaining to the modernisation project specifically for corporate taxpayers, tax agents, small businesses and individual taxpayers. Where resources are identified as required, but currently do not exist, these will be developed.  This suite of materials and programmes will be built on existing materials and training programmes currently in either draft or finalised form as developed by the Solomon Islands Inland Revenue Department.

  3. Thirdly, the activity includes the development of easy-to-use guides for corporate taxpayers, tax agents, small businesses and individual taxpayers for the purpose of using and interacting with the online system for the purposes of submission, communicating and responding to assessments or making queries, payment and any other related matter.

  4. In undertaking this activity, the following must be seriously considered and appropriate strategies designed to enhance opportunities and to mitigate risks:

    1. To ensure a sustainable and effective approach to taxpayer onboarding in the development of strategies, taxpayer materials/resources and guides;

    2. The existing human capacities, institutional structures and resources available within IRD to implement the taxpayer onboarding;

    3. Optimize ownership and buy-in from all key stakeholders; and

    4. To ensure effective and efficient onboarding particularly of small business and individual taxpayers in Phase 2 of the project

Competencies

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills;

  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;

  • Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;

  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;

  • Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;

  • Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;

  • Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.

  • Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;

  • Positive, constructive attitude to work

  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

  • Masters degree in Business, Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or related.

Experience

  • Min. of 5 years of experience with onboarding taxpayers or financial service customers to digital tax systems and/or digital financial service platforms.

  • Min. of 5 years of experience with the development, review and release of customer awareness materials and/or customer/business user guides.

  • Experience in the Pacific or other developing country context.

  • Experience in financial inclusion.

 

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications.

  • Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided.

  • P11 Form indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

    Technical proposal which includes a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment

  • Financial proposal, as per template provided

     

Incomplete proposals and proposals sent to the wrong mailing address may not be accepted.

Annexes