System of analytical support of FTS

TAdviser: Tell, please, what is represented by software tools of support of information and analytical activity of FTS?

Antonina Novikova: Software tools about which there is a speech in our conversation represent the uniform program and analytical Analytics complex containing in the structure different tools for solving of tasks of monitoring, the analysis, planning and forecasting of tax revenues. This complex was developed and functions on a technology platform of JSC PROGNOZ.

The complex contains means of formation of an information resource, import and any processing of data, formations of analytical indicators, the OLAP tools, means of formation of procedural report forms with support of advanced business graphics and also modeling and forecasting.

TAdviser: How long do specialists of the Federal Tax Service work with a HSS of Analyst? What tasks were set for developers of a complex initially?

Antonina Novikova: The first works on implementation separate a component of a complex began in 2002. Then developers were faced by a problem of creation of an information resource which had to provide formation of comparable dynamic ranks of data based on regular tax statements. For tasks of the analysis of tax revenues it was important to keep track of dynamics of data, but, in connection with constantly changing techniques of collecting and formation of tax statements, there was a problem of comparison of indicators for different time frames. It is obvious if data are incomparable, then and analysis results will be false. Fortunately, developers of Forecast successfully solved this problem.

TAdviser: It turns out that the complex is operated in divisions of FTS nearly 7 years. For such time frame natural process is expansion of structure of elements of an information system, circle of solvable tasks. Could you describe structure of a complex which exists today?

Antonina Novikova: Today the complex represents a complex multifunction system. The list of solvable tasks in comparison with initial level increased repeatedly. If to dwell upon structure of a complex, then in it it is possible to select two large blocks: complex of modules of information support and complex of modules of analytical tasks. The complex of modules of information support is intended for integration and consolidation of data from different data sources in a uniform information resource. In practice of tax administration any information is used: regular summary tax statements, data on economic and social situation of the subjects of the Russian Federation and Russia in general, data of the Departments of FNS of Russia and Interregional inspectorates for largest taxpayers, forecasts of macroeconomic indicators and many other things.

The complex of modules of analytical tasks is set functional a component which solve separate analytical problems. It is possible to give such modules as the module of the federal analysis, regional analysis, analysis and planning of tax revenues, the module of formation of the standardized research opinions, the module of modeling and forecasting of tax revenues and tax base as an example. If to list everything, then rather big list will turn out.

TAdviser: What key analytical tasks would you select?

Antonina Novikova: I would not begin to speak about the most important or less considerable problems which are solved by means of a complex. All tasks concern this or that party of tax administration that in total allows to work effectively to our specialists. Another thing is that all tasks can be broken into several groups: problems of summary monitoring and analysis, express information analysis, formation of standard analytical materials, analysis of activity of tax authorities, modeling and forecasting, planning.

TAdviser:  In what features and specifics of problems of express information analysis, summary monitoring and the analysis?

Antonina Novikova: The problem of summary monitoring and the analysis in FTS assumes, first, complex monitoring and the analysis of key indicators of social and economic development of the Russian Federation and its regions. Implementation of the analysis of a current economic environment in the country is important for the tax sphere. Secondly, monitoring and the analysis of dynamics and structure of receipts on main types of taxes and fees is conducted directly. Receipts on budget levels, by sectors of economy, in a regional section are considered. It is necessary to carry out the analysis of structure of indicators of tax base, their changes. Along with receipts, we perform monitoring and the analysis of change of debt, a shortage. The important direction is the analysis of execution of the federal budget regarding the income administered by FTS.

In a problem of summary monitoring and the analysis the basis is formed by different procedural reports which allow to create analytical tables, diagrams of the necessary type. All reports are configured under specific needs of specialists, have a certain set of parameters. In our practice analytical forms with a big variety of tables, diagrams, charts, electronic maps and also their combinations are required. Developers of Forecast execute all our requests therefore the complex contains enough the most different forms for needs of analysts.

Express information analysis assumes operational monitoring and the analysis of different data which are placed in an information resource of a complex. The OLAP technology of work with data is the cornerstone of the express analysis. The user can create arbitrary accesses of data from the available sources, configure structure of tabular, graphical representation of information, apply different analytic functions. It can be: data filtering, grouping, calculation of results, etc.

But it would be desirable to note that tasks of the express analysis and summary monitoring and the analysis cannot be considered as alternatives. On the contrary, they organically supplement each other. The specialist in addition to the standardized forms can use means of OLAP, as a result the solvable analytical task will be opened more deeply and precisely. Besides, in the conditions of permanent change of an economic situation to standardize everything and it is not possible to regulate.

TAdviser: You mentioned that the complex allows to create standard analytical materials. Tell, please, about what materials there is a speech sorts?

Antonina Novikova: For example, trial operation of the module of formation of the monthly standardized references which contain information on tax revenues on main types of taxes ended recently. References are provided to the management of the Federal Tax Service, give all the best on the website, are used on different boards and meetings. The complex allows to create research opinions in the automated mode. One of old tasks is the problem of formation of tax passports of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The tax passport represents the summary analytical document which contains information on economic and social situation and the taxation system of the region. Tax passports after their formation in tax administration are sent in the Departments of FNS of Russia for the subjects of the Russian Federation and then transferred to administrations of regions.

One more example of standard documents are materials for information and analytical providing the management of FTS. The big block of standard tables, diagrams and charts with data on socio-economic indexes, receipts and tax arrears, execution of the federal budget which are monthly updated and provided to the management of Service is implemented.

TAdviser: The problem of modeling and forecasting of tax revenues is how relevant? What work benches are provided by a complex?

Antonina Novikova: The relevance of a problem of modeling and forecasting is caused by the fact that the Federal Tax Service as the administrator of a tax income of the federal budget, is obliged to provide receipt of the approved amounts. Respectively, important to become function of assessment of a current status of tax revenues, the forecast of development of the situation. As for work benches, as a part of a complex the special module of modeling and forecasting is implemented. This module is intended for solving of tasks of component analysis of tax revenues, multiple-factor modeling and statistical forecasting of receipts of taxes and fees on budget levels. Software tools support a broad set of economic-mathematical methods and models: regression trend, autoregression and other models. In a complex the system of the factor models describing dynamics of the main byudzhetoobrazushchy taxes using scenario variables is implemented.

TAdviser: The complex represents a complex system which is intended for solving of tasks of a different profile. It is how simple to work with its means? Special preparation is necessary?

Antonina Novikova: At all complexity of a complex specialists of the Analytical Department of FNS of Russia can work with the majority of modules without preliminary preparation. There are enough skills of work in the environment of Windows. However, such modules as component analysis, modeling and forecasting require the corresponding knowledge and qualification. The staff of Forecast renders the timely and high-quality consulting help, constantly works with our specialists.

TAdviser: In what direction will the complex develop further?

Antonina Novikova: The economic environment constantly changes, in connection therewith there are changes in the tax law, practice of tax administration, new tasks appear. Also very quickly also the IT industry develops, there are new technologies which allow to solve the existing problems more effectively. Pleases that the Prognoz company develops the technology potential according to modern requirements. As a result, in particular, for needs of tax administration new functionality is offered and implemented into a complex.

It is possible to select two directions of development of a complex. The first – subject, i.e. there are new tasks in which it would be desirable to use possibilities of software tools as much as possible. For example, this year we implement a problem of monitoring and the analysis of credit institutions. Due to the crisis phenomena the focus of the analysis was shifted also to the banking sector therefore we planned development of the corresponding software.

And the second direction of development of a complex - technology. For example, now more and more relevant are web applications. It would be desirable that this practice extended to the Analytical Department of FNS of Russia.