
State Minister Lauds TAJ for Improved Service, Compliance
Finance and the Public Service State Minister Fayval Williams has lauded Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for imple-menting reforms that have significantly improved the agency’s operations and service delivery and taxpayers’ compliance in filing statutory returns. Notable among these initiatives, she says, are the Revenue Administration Information System e-services platform; the creation of a single-payment window for filing National Insurance Scheme, National Housing Trust and Education Tax returns; and the establishment of customer-care centres tailored to enhance the client experience.
Williams said that consequent on these, tax compliance has improved significantly within recent years.

Georgia blocks $100 million in fraudulent tax returns, so far, in 2017
Despite major data breaches such as the one at Equifax, tax agencies — including the Georgia Department of Revenue — are reporting increasing success in the war to stop fraudulent returns from turning into big money for crooks. Department of Revenue Commissioner Lynne Riley said the state has blocked $108 million worth of fraudulent returns so far this year. That’s up dramatically from two years ago, when only $19 million worth was stopped by the agency.
“It is encouraging to see everyone involved in the filing process working together to combat fraud,” Riley said. “It appears the collaborative effort has led to remarkable strides in both deterring and detecting tax fraud.”

Oregon DMV Overhaul Drives Real-ID Compliance
As Oregon works toward complying with the Real ID Act, the state is also modernizing its computer systems at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The 2005 Real ID Act established new security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards related to data, documentation, verification and sharing. It also prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and ID cards from states that do not meet these standards. That means ID from non-compliant states will not be accepted for entrance to military bases and federal facilities as well as at airport security checkpoints.
Although Oregon’s DMV could use its existing mainframe computer software, created in the mid-1960s and ’70s, to implement a Real ID-compliant identification card, it would be costly and time consuming, Lauren Mulligan, a spokesperson for the department’s Service Transformation Program, said in an email.

Michigan Secretary of State Improving Technology for Customers
MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – As more and more customers take advantage of alternative ways to do business with the Secretary of State such as online services at ExpressSOS.com, the department is moving forward with several technology-driven improvements to provide faster and more convenient service.
“Michigan residents are realizing there are better ways to renew their tabs or change their address than by waiting in our busy offices,” Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said. “Technology is enabling us to make it easier for you as our customers.”
Johnson said her team has new projects in the works as well as further development of existing programs.

Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE Name Fast Enterprises One of the Best Workplaces for Millennials
Fast Enterprises was ranked no. 82 on the list of the country’s Best Workplaces for Millennials, announced by research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and FORTUNE.
The ranking considered 398,000 surveys that assessed organizations’ fairness, teamwork, benefits and other elements essential to an outstanding work culture.

Business Insider: The 27 Best Tech CEOs, According to Employees
The tech industry is wringing its hands these days now that one exposé after another has revealed some pretty awful working conditions at a number of high-flying tech companies. But there’s another side to the story. There are still lots of places where employees love their jobs, love their companies and believe their CEOs are leading them well.
Glassdoor looked through its database of 32 million employee reviews to analyze the ones posted between between May 2, 2016 and May 1, 2017. It analyzed that data and on Tuesday, released its 2017 list of the 100 best CEOs, based on employee approval. As usual, tech company CEOs made a strong showing on the ful list of 100, taking one-quarter of the list. Take a look.
FAST’s own Martin Rankin made the list at number two! Congratulations, Martin!