PAC audit reports: FBR attempts to goad LTUs, RTOs into action

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue has issued a stern warning to the Chief Commissioners of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to urgently take action on the audit reports of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), otherwise, they will face disciplinary proceedings.

Sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the FBR is unhappy on the performance of the field formations, as action was delayed on the audit reports of the PAC pertaining to 2004-05, 2006-07, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2005-06 and 2008-09.

Under the FBR instructions to the field formations, it has been observed that despite the meetings in Lahore and Karachi, the LTUs and RTOs have not shown any visible progress in the said matter. It goes without saying that FBR is closely monitoring progress of each LTUs/RTOs on regular basis. Therefore, the Chief Commissioners of the LTUs/RTOs should report immediately on the updated position of the audit-paras, sources said.

Giving background of the FBR instructions to LTUs/RTOs, sources said that the PAC had directed the FBR to take strict disciplinary action against tax officials, who failed to submit the requisite tax record on audit objections raised from 2006-07 onwards. The officials of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) raised the issue of non-submission of sales tax record by the FBR. The PAC members expressed serious concern over the non-production of record in the audit para pertaining to 2006-2007. The FBR was given one month time to submit the record to the Auditor General of Pakistan, otherwise, the present team of the FBR will be personally responsible for non-compliance. If the matter is sub judice or there is a court order, the FBR has to give justification for non-submission of tax records, they added. 

FBR Member Inland Revenue had assured the committee that the FBR will submit all necessary record to the AGP. The action would be taken against tax officials, who failed to recover the taxes or unable to submit tax records. The PAC has also decided to hold meetings twice in a month to settle the audit objection regarding FBR and further directed the tax authorities to streamline the record, improve financial matters and submit compliance report to the committee within one month. 

Chairman of the committee said that in future action would be taken against those officers who fail to provide the required record to PAC. He suggested that a special cell be formed which may monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee.