The Commissioner of Taxation Annual Report 2003-04

2.9 An efficient, adaptive Tax Office

In 2003-04 the Tax Office had an operating overspend of $1.66 million, which is equivalent to 0.07% of our overall budget. For an analysis of our financial performance see part 1.3.

We also made significant improvements in our planning and financial management areas. Our governance framework, which is based on clearly stated principles of good governance, describes the models, instruments, mechanisms and/or arrangements that:

• set our purpose
• assign roles and responsibilities
• enable us to deliver on this purpose, including planning processes, policy systems and delegations, and
• assure us that we are delivering, including through reporting processes, internal audit and external scrutineers.

Since publishing the framework in August 2003 we have done a great deal of work to embed the underpinning principles into our everyday work, with a particular focus on:

• developing our corporate management practice statements system, which provides direction, assistance and a single point of reference for employees on what practices to follow, and their obligations in performing corporate management duties
• using the certificate of assurance process, which enables us to demonstrate conformance with all relevant statutory and legislative requirements
• expanding our management arrangements so that we can flexibly respond to our dynamic environment and the demands placed on us, including the development of capability leader roles to focus on efficiency and delivering results, and
• streamlining our corporate committee functions so that we focus on the important issues.

Throughout the year we worked to develop a comprehensive corporate management practice statements system to make sure our planning process addresses new priorities and challenges and maintains our everyday work. This process is underpinned by a financial modelling capability and focuses on productivity improvements.

We have also been identifying improvements to our risk management framework that will lead to a more effective risk management policy and process across the organisation.

Sections within Part 2 Report on performance

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Output 1.1.1 - shape, design and build administrative systems
• 2.3 Output 1.1.2 - management of revenue collections and transfers
• 2.4 Output 1.1.3 and output 1.1.4 - compliance assurance
• 2.5 Output 1.1.5 - services to governments and agencies
• 2.6 Delivering to government
• 2.7 Maintaining community confidence
• 2.8 Minimising compliance costs
• 2.9 An efficient, adaptive Tax Office
• 2.10 Our social justice and equity programs
• 2.11 Our purchaser/ provider arrangements