How does the ATO use SAS?
The ATO began using SAS data mining tools in 2004 to help address two major change processes. The first of these was to enable taxpayers to increasingly do business with the agency electronically – to make it easy and convenient for people to submit their statements and returns via the Internet. In parallel with this, the ATO sought to process taxpayers’ inputs in a more timely and responsive manner to ensure that refunds were paid and debts collected on time. The second major objective was equally important – to be a more customer-friendly organisation. For many people, interaction with tax authorities has been a daunting once-a-year obligation. The ATO sought to change that for Australians by becoming more readily approachable and, in the words of Warwick Graco, a Senior Data Miner in the Office of the Chief Knowledge Officer, Australian Taxation Office, “by providing an easier, cheaper and more personalised service.” SAS software is assisting the ATO to develop models to understand
