THE rise in the number of income tax returns filed online this year is an encouraging sign that the electronic mode is catching on among taxpayers in Malaysia. Just a day before the April 30 deadline, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) received 803,655 transactions online.

Last year, some 874,800 taxpayers submitted their tax returns online, which represented a whopping

370 per cent increase over the 2006 figures.

This year, there were also less complaints from taxpayers regarding problems with e-filing, compared to in previous years. But there were some technical glitches, especially when many taxpayers logged onto the IRB Web site a few days before the deadline to file in their returns.

Nonetheless, the authorities have done quite a good job in ensuring that the system is more user-friendly and able to cope with the rise in volume of transactions.

The success with e-filing is crucial as more initiatives are being implemented to make transactions with Government agencies more efficient through the streamlining of e-payment systems. By July 1, all payments to the Government will go e-payable. This is part of the Government’s vision of becoming fully electronic as far as public services delivery is concerned.

But to realise this vision, it is not just about building a world-class infrastructure. Equally important is making sure that society is ready and willing to accept new methods, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said a cultural change is needed among the general public, which includes a shift towards totally embracing technology.

So, having such systems as e-filing and getting the people hands-on to appreciate new ways of doing things are important as an initial step to gain public confidence towards putting the e-government vision on the road to success.