IRD moving to IP set-up

By RICHARD WOOD

The Inland Revenue Department will switch to internet protocol- based telecommunications as part of a telecoms outsourcing deal worth around $36 million.

It will seek registrations of interest this month to cover its annual telecommunications cost for three years, with a two-year renewal option.

The incumbent is Telecom New Zealand but the tender will likely also attract interest from TelstraClear and Vodafone and telco equipment vendors.

Colin McDonald, general manager of business development and systems, said the IRD was looking for innovation and was keen to "push the envelope" to have a modern and up-to-date network, but the technologies would also have to be soundly supported in New Zealand.

Although he had tagged internet protocol (IP) as an obvious "flexible" platform choice, a "business requirements" approach would be the focus, rather than any particular technology.

Deadline for registrations of interest will be late this month and a request for a proposal will be issued by Christmas, to close in early February.

Meanwhile, plans to boost online access to Inland Revenue information have been delayed by a product recall by computer server supplier Sun Microsystems.

The department has electronic filing for business, but is at present piloting a system for account information to be viewed online.

This will be available first for student loan borrowers, then extended to child support clients by next March and then to business users of GST, fringe-benefit tax and income tax information.

McDonald said extra development was required for the pilot because early feedback showed people wanted to go beyond balances into account transactions, similar to a banking system.

The initial October launch plan had also involved bumping up computing muscle with two or three additional servers, but this was hit by a Sun product recall.

"That has meant we won't be able to build the infrastructure till the end of October so we are more likely to launch the service in November."