The meeting had two objectives: to explain the upcoming VMS enhancements and the EFD framework, as well as to address the developers’ questions in an open dialogue during the Q&A session.

Meeting details

During the first part of the meeting, Ms. Kelerayani Dawai, Compliance Director at FRCS, addressed the implementation of the new VAT requirements in the VMS system, outlining strategies to manage the ongoing changes while enhancing service delivery.

DTI’s Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Ivan Pavlovic, followed up with a detailed review of the most significant changes and key enhancements resulting from the transition from VMS version 2 to version 3. It is notable to mention that this transition is in alignment with Phase 3 of FRCS’s 2025/2026 National Budget Announcement.

Backward compatibility between v2 and v3 is assured

During this transition period, which FRCS confirmed will last until 31.12.2026, DTI ensures backward compatibility between the previous and the new system. All EFD solutions currently operating under the v2 model will continue to work with the new system until the extended transition deadline.

This measure confirms FRCS’s confidence that all vendors will adapt to the new version of the system within this timeframe and encourages them to begin adaptation and testing as soon as possible to ensure compliance within the extended timeline.

The developers who were both in the room and online openly voiced their questions to the FRCS and DTI representatives

The Q&A session

At the end of the meeting, an interactive Q&A session took place, during which vendors attending both online and in person could discuss changes, voice their concerns, and raise current issues regarding the transition from version 2 to version 3 of the VMS system.

3 key takeaways from the meeting

1. Supplier accreditation & conduct. Suppliers must apply for accreditation of POS/E-SDC (reg 8), comply with conduct rules (reg 15). Accreditation can be revoked where requirements aren’t met (reg 10).
2. Taxpayer obligations. Taxpayers must use compliant EFDs and issue fiscal invoices (regs 16–18). FRCS may audit and investigate (reg 27) and enforce compliance (reg 28).
3. FRCS (CEO) role & protocols. FRCS sets guidelines and protocols for communication/data exchange (regs 20–21) and publishes verification procedures (reg 25).

In conclusion

To ensure a level playing field and a stronger market of technically compliant solutions, DTI is providing equal technical support to every vendor and a free-of-charge accreditation process to verify compliance. We have designed this approach to enhance service quality, promote healthy competition, and provide taxpayers with a broader choice of compliant EFD offerings. Ultimately, it results in better outcomes for taxpayers.

Acknowledging the message the VMS developers conveyed to both FRCS and DTI, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting and strengthening effective communication among the three parties: DTI, FRCS, and third-party vendors.

DTI’s equal-support, zero-fee accreditation model is deliberate: it expands the pool of technically compliant solutions and raises the bar on service quality through competition. The result is better outcomes for taxpayers.

Final remarks

As a reminder, our journey in Fiji began in 2017, and since then, we have continuously supported and enhanced DTI’s flagship product, TaxCore®. DTI’s longstanding presence in the country, especially considering the rapid pace at which new technological solutions emerge, stands as a testament to the trust and strong partnership that exists between our company and Fiji’s FRCS.

Given the trust that FRCS has placed in our product, it is only natural for us to continue supporting and investing in this initiative. The recent upgrade to version 3 demonstrates that our product remains fully operational, future-ready, and continuously enhanced to address upcoming challenges. As always, we emphasize our strong commitment to fighting tax evasion.

The post DTI Meets with VMS POS and E-SDC Development Companies at FRCS’s Invitation appeared first on Dti.

In the South Pacific, where bureaucratic bottlenecks sometimes run on “Fiji time”, at the forefront of this shift is the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), a government agency long responsible for collecting the country’s revenue, now writing a new chapter in tax compliance with the help of Data Tech International (DTI). Together, we’ve built something the country has never seen before, a real-time VAT monitoring system that has already proven its existence.

This is the reason why we sat with Kelerayani Dawai, Director of Compliance at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS). FRCS is responsible for more than 85% of the government’s revenue. Now, think about that for a moment… most of the roads, hospitals, and public services in Fiji rely on one department’s ability to collect taxes accurately, promptly, and fairly.

Dawai doesn’t deal with sayings or lofty pronouncements. She talks directly about compliance, about trust, and the daily tug-of-war between what’s ideal and what’s achievable. “The truth is, we just couldn’t keep up,” she says. “The old way, checking receipts, doing manual audits, it wasn’t just inefficient. It was impossible for a country our size.” So, Fiji decided to stop chasing receipts and start receiving them, live.

Key Takeaways – Fiji eInvoicing Benchmark

1. Real-Time Data Changed Everything: Fiji didn’t wait for global consensus or donor blueprints, it went live. The VAT Monitoring System (VMS), powered by Data Tech International’s TaxCore, gave FRCS real-time access to every receipt. “We don’t have the resources to manually audit every trader,” said Director of Compliance Kelerayani Dawai. “We can’t be everywhere. But the data can be.”

2. Compliance Went from Enforced to Embraced: Initially met with suspicion, the system eventually won businesses over, not through pressure, but through proof. “We started seeing businesses that weren’t even obligated to join the system, step forward,” Dawai said. “They saw how it could help them too, not just us.”

3. Visibility Made the Difference: FRCS now sees every transaction down to the cent. This is live proof. From catching mispriced chickens to flagging misapplied VAT rates, Dawai put it simply: “We didn’t need guesswork. We had the receipts. Literally.”

4. Trust Was Built, Not Bought: Success came not just from software, but from how DTI worked with FRCS. “They learned our tempo,” said Dawai. “They adjusted. And that mattered.” Because when you’re asking a whole economy to shift its behavior, trust becomes your biggest asset.

5. The Region Is Watching: Fiji’s phased rollout and collaborative approach are turning heads across the Pacific. “We’re not telling them what to do,” Dawai said. “But we share our legislation. We share the phases. We share the stumbles and wins. Let them decide.” Because everyone wants to have keys to digital VAT monitoring and reporting success, this is why Fiji became the true eInvoicing benchmark.

The Partnership That Changed Everything

The shift began with a technological leap, but not one Fiji took alone. The real engine behind this change is the VAT Monitoring System (VMS), powered by a DTI’s platform called TaxCore. Since the early days of the FRCS/DTI partnership (2017), our team has become more like embedded collaborator than distant consultant.

This wasn’t a simple install-and-go. The road was long, occasionally bumpy, and often political. “We passed the legislation, and yes, there was pushback,” Dawai admits. Businesses didn’t like the idea of their sales data pinging over to FRCS in real time. There was suspicion, confusion, and a lot of bad information floating around. “There was resistance, of course,” she says, with the calm candor of someone who’s seen both the protests and the payoffs. “When the VAT Monitoring System was legislated, the business community didn’t understand why. They thought it was about control. But it was about fairness.”

Fairness, in this case, meant warranting every business, large or small, played by the same tax rules. Fiji, like many developing nations, leans heavily on VAT, which alone makes up nearly half the government’s income. That dependence made leakages intolerable. The solution? Not a legion of inspectors, but data, streamed directly from businesses to FRCS in real-time, via electronic fiscal devices connected to the TaxCore system.  “We don’t have the resources to manually audit every trader,” Dawai explains. “We can’t be everywhere. But the data can be.”

Still, no technology enters quietly. Businesses balked, citing confusion and cost. The pandemic didn’t help, pushing back key rollout phases. But over time, as understanding grew, so did the buy-in. Voluntary buy-in, in fact. “We started seeing businesses that weren’t even obligated to join the system, step forward,” Dawai says, smiling. “They saw how it could help them too, not just us.”

Fiji eInvoicing Benchmark: Seeing Everything, All at Once

The core idea of the VMS is simple: every transaction at a registered business sends a digitally signed and secured invoice to the tax authority. This gave FRCS something it never had before, visibility. Not statistical models or educated guesses, but live data. Down to the cents, across the whole economy. Obviously, VAT compliance improved dramatically. Audits became surgical instead of sweeping. And FRCS staff, once swamped by paperwork, could now spend their time analyzing data instead of chasing it.

But DTI didn’t just send technicians. They sent people willing to sit in meetings that lasted hours longer than scheduled and created chat platforms where junior FRCS staff could log queries directly. Focus was on relationship building. “They learned our tempo,” Dawai said. “They adjusted. And that mattered. Because when you’re asking a whole economy to shift its behavior, trust becomes your biggest asset.”

The Chicken That Shook the System

The government announced a shift from three VAT rates (15%, 9% and 0%) to a single flat rate of 15%. And just like that in 2022, prices for household staples jumped when the Budget was announced. The public wasn’t amused. Complaints poured into the Consumer Council and the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission.

“People thought the VAT increase was the whole story,” Dawai says. “But our data told a more complicated one.” Within hours, FRCS, with DTI’s help, began generating inflationary reports using live VMS data. They zeroed in on prices for essentials, comparing them across retailers, regions, and time. One product stood out: chicken.

“Everyone eats chicken in Fiji,” Dawai says, smiling. Before the tax rate change, a standard chicken cost was around $17. The day after? Some outlets had it listed at $24. That’s not a 6% tax increase (from 9% to 15%), it’s a 40% spike. And the VMS caught it instantly. “We didn’t have to send inspectors and didn’t need guesswork. We had the receipts. Literally,” Dawai says. The system had teeth, not through threats, but through facts.

This digital accountability didn’t stop at chickens. When VAT rates were misapplied at checkout, sometimes by mistake, sometimes not, the system flagged it. When shops tried to play fast and loose with refunds or returns, TaxCore catches the anomalies. No need for dawn raids or paperwork marathons. Just data, flowing in real-time, scrutinized by analysts who focus on the signal, not the noise.

Fiji eInvoicing Benchmark: Why the Region is Paying Attention

Interestingly, word got out. Other countries, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and others, have started reaching out. Not for software, but for strategy.  “We’re not telling them what to do,” she insists. “But we share our legislation. We share the experience. We share the stumbles and wins. Let them decide.” Because this isn’t about showing off, it’s about building something that works. The FRCS isn’t trying to lecture the world. But if you’re looking for a small country that did something big with tax reform, this is where the real lessons live. This is how Fiji became the eInvoicing benchmark in the region, and maybe, even beyond!

It helps that FRCS took a staggered approach, three phases, each onboarding specific business sectors. Phase 3, the final one, is awaiting gazette approval. But Dawai’s vision goes beyond phases. She sees a future where every business in Fiji, formal or informal, issues digital invoices. A future where even the smallest roadside vendor knows exactly what they earned last month and how much tax they should (or shouldn’t) be paying. That shift, from suspicion to cooperation, might be the system’s biggest success. It’s not just about collecting revenue. It’s about changing relationships, and this is why other countries are following closely.

The Road Ahead

Phase 3 of the VMS is next. Dawai expects it to expand to more sectors, more businesses, and eventually, become the national norm. “This isn’t just about revenue,” she says. “It’s about giving small businesses tools they never had before. It’s about bringing the informal sector into the fold. And yes, it’s about making tax fair for everyone.”

When asked what advice she’d give to other revenue authorities, Dawai doesn’t hesitate. “Know your goal. For us, it was voluntary compliance. Not just more tax, but better tax. That’s what this system delivered.”

She doesn’t talk in slogans or strategies. She talks about what’s working. What’s changing. What’s possible when government stops chasing taxpayers and starts listening to the data.

The Example No One Saw Coming

What Fiji has done with the VMS, with TaxCore, with DTI, is nothing short of remarkable. In a region often written off as a footnote in global reform conversations, they’ve become a reference point. “It speaks volume in terms of how such a system can influence a tax system or reporting framework for a developing country like ours,” Dawai said. “Data is powerful nowadays. If you’re able to sit in the office and get information on a dashboard, all those reports… it changes everything.”

The old enforcement model, she said, was labor-intensive and often late. “We don’t have resources, we can’t police everybody, we can’t go and check individual records. It’s very expensive.” But the digital solution “was the option the government needed to take.”

The results are measurable, but perhaps more striking is the shift in tone. Compliance, Dawai said plainly, is no longer feared. “Right now, there is a great appreciation of the change that has taken place,” she said. “People appreciate that VMS is here to stay.”

And for Dawai, who has been tasked with upholding laws and closing revenue gaps, the bottom line is clear. When asked to sum up the biggest value of the VMS, she didn’t hesitate. “As a Director of Compliance, I really support this. And in that one word: it’s compliance!”

The post Fiji eInvoicing Benchmark: Compliance Made Easy appeared first on Dti.

This is why Fiji decided to implement the revolutionary solution against tax fraud that TaxCore represents. But, more than just a tax-collecting platform, TaxCore serves as a perfect ally against the grey economy, which was Fiji’s main objective to choose it in the first place. To truly fight the grey economy which costs many countries in billions, one must also organize the way fiscal atmosphere looks.

What Is the Overall Result in Fiji?

Two years later, and the overall situation in Fiji has significantly improved. One of the largest issues this nation was facing was the fact people didn’t ask for receipts. Naturally, this gives more than enough space for taxpayers to commit tax fraud at the cost of consumers’ rights. The culture in Fiji is such that asking for a receipt represents disbelief, and, as such, people frown upon this. The state of Fiji and Data Tech International had to come up with a way to motivate customers to ask for a receipt; and the best solution was to reward them.

TaxCore’s receipts are revolutionary for the way they look and present the information to a buyer. All the items are listed so clearly that a consumer is never confused, but more importantly, they come with a QR code at the bottom that a consumer can scan. By scanning this code, a customer can see a digital version of the invoice on their smartphone.

Moreover, they can report the receipt immediately if something doesn’t seem right. By doing this, they are taking part in the Customer Compliance Award program – which is a form of a lottery where a consumer can receive an award. The awards can span from a simple dinner for two, to a new car.

This plan motivated Fiji buyers to ask for receipts, which for the most part, helped shut down the grey economy.

Recently, Fiji announced that they’ve hit the mark of 200 million issued receipts. Although one might believe this number isn’t fascinating given how it has been two years – it is actually more than satisfactory for a couple of reasons.

The Rollout Process

Since implementing TaxCore presents a big change, the tax authority in Fiji must do this process in a precise and thorough manner. Therefore, Fiji’s Tax Authority decided to split taxpayers into groups – starting with realtors and pharmacies.

The first group consisted of these two industries only, and the new groups are expected to be rolled out soon. Issuing 200 million receipts is captivating because the number is based exclusively on supermarkets and pharmacies.

This is a clear sign that:

1. Consumers asked for receipts regularly, and
2. Taxpayers abide by the law

Hitting this mark is a clear signal that Fiji and TaxCore are successfully changing the fiscal and tax climate in the country.

Now that FRCS has collected more than 200 million fiscal invoices from onboarded supermarkets and pharmacies with over 100 different POS vendors and few ESDC vendors, it is time for new groups.

FRCS is now ready to take other industries into scope, especially hospitality, put on hold due to the COVID-19 crisis. Tourism and hospitality are two branches that have started to bring in a lot of revenue to the country, therefore Fiji deems it important to bring these industries into the system starting from January 2022, as delayed due to COVID-19.

The situation will only get better once all the industries have been properly enrolled in the system.

The post Fiji tax fraud – The State of Fiji Registers Its 200 Millionth Receipt – And Here’s Why That’s Important appeared first on Dti.

In 1997, its official name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa. This was the point where a lot of changes were due for this nation, the latest one being a completely new tax collection system.

In July of 2019, the Minister of Revenue in Samoa, Mr. Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, reviled the plan that the country will be rolling out a new tax monitoring system to erode tax evasion. The Minister announced that this new system will be web-based, and it will enable real-time monitoring of businesses and taxpayers.

Samoan Ministry of Customs and Revenue, taking in consideration the successful implementation of our software, TaxCore, in Fiji, has offered the contract to Data Tech International, effective this month, when the implementation of TaxCore should officially begin.

The first order of business after signing the contract is setting up the hardware infrastructure and supporting all the taxpayers in Samoa. Additionally, DTI will provide training and knowledge transfer to the Ministry of Customs and Revenue of Samoa as part of the 5 year deliverable and maintenance agreement.

Data Tech International and its flagship product, TaxCore, strives to fight against the gray economy to ensure its worldwide eradication, among the benefits for the tax authority to bear in mind about the system, it is important to highlight:

The post DTI and the Independent State of Samoa Strike a Deal appeared first on Dti.

International Convention Center
Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands

PITAA consists of sixteen Pacific Islands countries. These are Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kingdom of Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, The Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, Palau, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Republic of the Marshal Islands, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.

In 2019, the conference was held in the Marshal Islands, and Data Tech International (DTI) was invited to participate. DTI presented its ultimate electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) platform, TaxCore, and many benefits it has brought to Fiji Island where it is implemented as VAT Monitoring System (VMS).

With TaxCore, every fiscal receipt handed out to a customer is instantly verifiable as it goes through the system and is forwarded directly to a local tax authority. This ensures a real-time monitoring system where any discrepancies can be easily caught.

DTI has shown how TaxCore brings benefits for everyone, not exclusively to the tax authority – meaning that taxpayers and customers also have a lot to look forward to.

Tax Authority Gets:

• Significant Increase of Tax Collection
• Decreased Activity of Grey Economy
• Suppression of Tax Evasion

Taxpayers Get:

• Protection for honest taxpayers (from unfair competition)
• Minimized cost of compliance
• Registration of both sales and purchases (B2B transactions)

The Public Gets:

• Raise of consumer awareness
• Clear information on the tax amount that goes to the government
• Digital electronic invoices
• Participation in the CCA (Customer Compliance Award Program)

TaxCore is a safe system based on the PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) which gives full control to the tax authority. Although the system is based online, so it ensures real-time data transactions, some countries are facing difficulties with the internet infrastructure. Therefore, DTI ensured that TaxCore can work offline as well using secure element in the form of a smart cards that save data until the internet connection is re-established. This has proven most valuable when disaster happened right after launch in Fiji (April 2018) when cyclone Josie had devastated western parts of the island. All the sales records before the affected shops were closed due to the hurricane were preserved and reported to Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS).

The List of Participants

The PITAA conference of 2019 saw many important names attending. Besides the PITAA members participating were also distinguished observers from International Monetary Fund (IMF), Australian High Commission, New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, and many more.

It was a true honor to be invited to a conference which so many important names attended. Which is why DTI made sure to provide the latest information on technology in taxation and VAT monitoring and how it need to be utilized. Moreover, we made sure to lead with an example and support all our claims with situations and hardships we encountered on the way and have solved successfully.

The conference was a great opportunity for DTI to shed some light on why it is important for outdated tax collection systems are brought into the 21^st century. A lot of data says that countries which dared embark on this journey have seen their efforts pay off significantly – and the goal of DTI is to help through this transition.

The post PITAA Conference DTI: Attending the 16th annual Conference appeared first on Dti.

It was very fortunate for Data Tech International to present VAT Monitoring System (VMS) project to distinguished 135 CATA delegates from 30+ countries. VMS was in the state of acceptance by the our client Fiji Revenue and Customs at the time, who was the host of the conference, which made our presentation even more convincing, for participants to see a working solution. We were scheduled for the panel on the second day:

Role of technology in improving the delivery of taxpayer services: The session discusses some of the best practices in delivering taxpayer services and the key building blocks of a robust taxpayer services division/unit including staff competencies, evaluation criteria/benchmarks and best practices. Use of technology as a key enabler for delivering quality taxpayer services will be discussed through sharing of country experiences. 

Session Chair: 

• John Tsangaris, Commissioner of the Tax Department, Ministry of Finance – Cyprus 

Speakers: 

• Goran Todorov, Managing Director and Ivan Pavlović, Product Manager, Data Tech International 
• Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria 
• Pauline Bre, Taxation Commissioner, Internal Revenue Commission – Papua New Guinea

In his opening remarks, FRCS CEO, Mr Das, congratulated CATA and its members on its anniversary that commemorates 40 years of global partnership before declaring the 39th CATA Technical conference officially open.

39th CATA TECHNICAL CONFERENCE

The post 39th CATA TECHNICAL CONFERENCE appeared first on Dti.

This procedure is crucial because it can be done without interrupting taxpayer’s operation at all – the personnel doesn’t have to turn off any tills or stop scanning new products for auditors to do their job. Also, if it happens that a POS card stops working for some reason, inspectors can use an application DTI developed to audit it on the spot. 

The idea of TaxCore is to help tax authorities long-term, in this case, to the Vat Monitoring System (VMS) in Fiji, which means that the tax authorities have the freedom to take full advantage of the platform and come up with their own effective ideas.

The post Fiji Vat Monitoring System – Onboarding and Training appeared first on Dti.

Therefore, in 2017, DTI was invited to help FRCS come up with a new system that ensures easier and accurate tax collection. By offering the best solution with our platform, TaxCore, the government of Fiji made a decision to contract DTI to help them in the upcoming transition to a new system called VAT Monitoring System (VMS).

What makes TaxCore incredibly useful is the fact it offers a complete insight into every single receipt that goes through the system, may it be from a supermarket, wholesaler, doctor or a lawyer’s office. Therefore, in the present, the tax officers in Fiji can easily detect any irregularities with VAT, STT, EL or other levies throughout the country.

With VMS, Fiji probably has one of the most modern systems in the world which is fully digitalised e-invoicing system. However, given the challenging telecom infrastructure which often causes connection disturbances, DTI was faced with main obstacle: how to make e-invoice immediately verifiable regardless if Internet on premise is up or down.

We had to devise a system that would allow collecting data from a POS (Point of Sale) device even when the connection breaks. This data remains secured thanks to a smart card connected to the POS until the connection restores, and then it is forwarded to the tax office.

DTI’s team of programmers was ready to put a lot of time and effort into finding proper inventions to work around all the possible obstacles. It is thanks to their hard work we managed to successfully implement TaxCore and help the government of Fiji battle tax fraud efficiently.

The post The Cooperation Between DTI and the Government of Fiji appeared first on Dti.