Disposal of taxpayers' complaints: FTO's office introduces new mechanism

The office of Federal Tax Ombudsman and Federal Board of Revenue have implemented a new mechanism for early disposal of complaints filed by taxpayers during investigation phase before start of formal hearing by the FTO. Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle informed media here on Friday that it is a big relief for the taxpayers to have decision on the complaint before start of formal hearing of the case by the FTO Office.
In this connection, the FTO Office and the FBR have implemented the new system to facilitate the taxpayers, saving precious time of the taxpayers as well as government functionaries. This is for the first time that such a measure has been introduced to expedite speedy disposal of complaints.
Under the new system, if a compliant has been received in the FTO Office and the nature of the complaint is that it could be decided before formal hearing of the case, the same would be resolved before hearing of the case. Depending on the nature of complaint, the FTO Office can consult the FBR for redressal of the complaint before formal hearing of the case. If the case could be resolved before formal process, it will be a major relief for the taxpayer to obtain decision before going through the legal process of hearing till announcement of the order of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO).
During investigation-phase, a number of complaints have been resolved which is an extraordinary relief to the registered persons, Dr Suddle added. Meanwhile, sources said that it is an innovative idea to provide relief to the registered taxpayers who have approached the FTO Office against the FBR. The FTO Office has taken the FBR into confidence that it would be appropriate to resolve the petty issues of taxpayers before formal hearing of complaints at the level of the FTO Office.
The order of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) office would ultimately come to the FBR for implementation within a specific time period. It would be more appropriate that if the FBR is ready to resolve the problems of the taxpayers at its own level and taxpayers would not be required to come to the FTO Office for filing of formal complaints against the FBR. Thus, implementation of the decision during the investigation process of the complaints provides major relief to the taxpayers, they added.