Tax Ombudsman vows to eradicate 'maladministration' in FBR

LAHORE: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Muhammad Asif Jah has said the institution of FTO is using all legal powers and resources to check individual and system based maladministration and corrupt practices in FBR to restore taxpayers' confidence in tax administration in the larger interest of the country.

While addressing members of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) here on Monday, he said only a fair, just, easy and efficient tax system can ensure better revenue collection, which is vital for country's growth.

He was welcomed by Chairman APTMA Abdul Rahim Nasir, Chairman Northern Zone Hamid Zaman, Senior Vice Chairman Kamran Arshad and Secretary General APTMA Raza Baqir.

Dr Asif Jah said the office of FTO was not only handling the complaints received from taxpayers but through its mechanism of own motion cases and inspections, it was hectically engaged to check maladministration in tax administration and make recommendations.

He emphasized the point that the FTO institution provided cost-free, efficient and merit based mechanism to aggrieved persons. Also, it checked revenue leakages and contributed towards ensuring a better tax collection deterrence to the corrupt tax officials, he added.

He said the outreaching programme of the FTO office was one of the key functions of his office. Even the President of Pakistan has directed to not only expedite it but also enhance its scope, he added.

He further said his office would ensure the end of the culture of non-responsive attitude of tax officers to the taxpayers, as he was issuing instructions to the FBR chairman in that regard. FTO added that he would ensure its implementation as well.

FTO also sought APTMA's representation in the Advisory Committee of FTO Lahore for resolution of tax issues faced by the members of the Association. He urged the FBR senior officers to enhance interaction with business community for an early resolution of their problems.

On the issue of missing amounts of refund claims of the export-oriented industry, he advised the members of the Association to file complaints with the office of FTO for officially taking up the matter with FBR.

He told the APTMA members that the FTO office had received 3,888 cases in 2020 with a disposal of 3,555 cases in the same year. The ratio of acceptance of the FTO recommendations stood at 80.03 percent while only 19.9 percent were challenged by the competent authority. He said the average disposal time was 48.61 days in 2020. The office of FTO had carried out 35 research studies in 2020 as well, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021