ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Thursday said that it would not take any measures that might create harassment in the business community, urging businessmen to cooperate with tax department for improving the tax revenue of the country.
"Communication gap between FBR and the taxpayers is the main hurdle in improving tax revenue and a Dispute Resolution and Advisory Committee comprising representative of FBR and ICCI should be formed to resolve tax issues amicably," Syed Ejaz Hussain, Director General Intelligence & Investigation (I&I) Inland Revenue, FBR said.
Addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he said the Committee should comprise the representative of I&I Directorate and ICCI.
He assured that FBR would not take any coercive measures, adding criminal proceedings would be initiated only in rare cases where taxpayers would not extend any cooperation with the department.
He said instructions have already been issued to I&I Directorate officers not to collect Capital Value Tax (CVT) as only field units of RTO will collect it.
He said without authorized warrants, no officer of FBR could raid business premises and stressed that businessmen should not cooperate with those officers who don't have authorized warrants. Rather, they should report such matters to the police, he added.
He said cooperative relations between tax collectors and taxpayers is the way forward to promote national interest and assured that FBR would not take any such measures that may create any unnecessary tension in the business community.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI Acting President, Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry highlighted various tax related issues of the business community.
He said businessmen are ready to pay tax, but certain measures of I&I Directorate like initiating criminal proceedings, detention and registration of FIRs against some taxpayers have created lot of harassment in the business community and FBR should avoid such extreme measures to improve trust deficit and to build confidence.
He welcomed the formation of Dispute Resolution & Advisory Committee and hoped that after its formal notification, things would improve to developing better relations between tax collectors and taxpayers.
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