Inland Revenue has set its sights on software companies.
But, rather than wanting to get some money from them, this time the government department is looking to pay then some money - it's on the hunt for software to help make it easier for New Zealanders to pay their taxes.
The agency has issued an expression of interest seeking software companies to provide core technology required by the department.
Greg James, Inland Revenue deputy commissioner change, says the government department is looking for a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution 'as the technology is flexible and can respond to policy changes and new technologies'.
"We need experienced and qualified software providers who have implemented similar systems of this size," James says.
"A key objective for us is that Inland Revenue's processes and systems will be 'simple at the front, smart at the back. To achieve this vision, part of what we need is a stable technology platform.
"Inland Revenue has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make tax easier for everyone and selecting the best software experts is critical to the project's success," he says.
Inland Revenue administers $55 billion – or 85% – of New Zealand Government revenue each year, as well as millions of dollars of social policy entitlements.
"It's vital that we work with the very best experts in the field and we take the utmost care in selecting the right software provider," James says.
"We are clear, we need a solution and a software partner who has worked on large projects like this before and has a proven track record. We are not taking any chances when it comes to delivering the best tax system possible for New Zealand and experience counts.
The new software will be part of Inland Revenue's 'business transformation' – a multi-year, multi-stage change programme to modernise the tax service to make it simpler and faster for Kiwis to pay taxes, and give more certainty that they'll receive their entitlements.
"Technology alone won't achieve this modernisation. It's more than just replacing a thirty-year old computer system.
"The programme will simplify and streamline our business processes, policies and customer services as well as upgrade our technology platform. The new system will give us more flexibility and speed to implement future changes in tax and social policies," Inland Revenue says
The Expression of Interest is available on the Government Electronic Tenders Service and closes 24 October 2014.
A Request for Proposal is expected to be released to the shortlisted COTS providers in March or April 2015.
