People were so far able to easily submit their saved eligible expense checks to the State Revenue Service (VID) through the “eligible expenses” (Attaisnotie izdevumi) smart device app. But for Android users, it has been out of order for several months – checks and receipts have been photographed and submitted to the VID, but the sending process in the app doesn't end up where it should. iPhone users do not have such problems.
The VID acknowledges this problem. Since the Android operating system was updated early last year, the VID app on phones using that system stopped working.
“We had such great optimism that we would get it in order quickly, but looking further, it became clear that small fixes would not be enough and in the format the app was in, it has served its time,” said VID spokeswoman Inita Kabanova.
Therefore, the app has been removed from the Google Play Store by the Service and can no longer be downloaded.
A whole new app is underway at the moment, but it is not known how long it will take.
“Without an app, you can do it through the electronic declaration system (EDS) just like you would at any moment, you don't have to wait for March. This can be done via both phone and computer and the differences from the app are not as great,” said VID spokeswoman Inita Kabanova.
Android users who have tried to add checks through the app in recent months are advised to make sure they are submitted on their EDS profile.
People with questions about any issues related to filing returns can ask them either in the “correspondence with VID” section of the EDS or by calling 67120000.
State and local Government Unified Customer Service centers, which operate in almost all Latvian municipalities, also assist with declaration issues.
The “eligible expenses” app had been available to residents since 2016. It was developed at the same time as the VID app to report suspicious transactions, which also no longer works. The two apps cost under €37,000 in total.
