The Highest Degree of Computerization Achieved in the Area of Revenue Collection

According to the findings of the ‘Study on the Availability of Public Services on the Internet in 2006’, the Croatian public administration has made significant progress in the computerization of public administration, particularly in revenue collection services.

Specifically, of the 20 public services observed for citizens and eight for business entities, more than 46 percent of public administration services were available to citizens last year, while more than 60 percent were available to business entities. The results of the research were presented at the Central State Office for e-Croatia in Zagreb, by Diana Šimić, Deputy State Secretary of the Office, and Damir Novotny, Director of T&CM, which conducted the research.

The study investigates the possibility for citizens and business entities to conduct their affairs with the state via the internet, and for the purposes of the study, public services were divided into four clusters: income generation (taxes, customs); registrations of all kinds; returns (communication with health institutions, public libraries, etc.), and permits. The highest degree of computerization and availability was achieved in the first cluster, where it is possible to report all types of taxes and complete a ‘full transaction’.

Comparing the situation with that in EU countries, where an average of 75 percent availability is achieved, Croatia does not lag far behind the average, say the authors of the Study, and in 2006 it was ahead of some new member states by this parameter. For example, Slovakia and Latvia are behind Croatia, but Estonia and Malta are ranked very high, just behind the leading and ‘unreachable’ Austria.  Along with the Tax Administration with the e-tax and e-VAT project, last year HZMO stood out with the introduction of electronic pension insurance applications, and KBC Rebro with its Patient Guide.
Of the 1200 state bodies covered by the research at the national and local levels, 651 bodies had a website.   (Davoraka Zmijarević)