Income tax returns: FBR teams may visit GHQ, other offices

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is planning to send tax officials to Air Headquarters, Naval Head-quarters, General Headquarters (GHQ), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Headquarters, Pakistan Secretariat and other government and semi-government organisations to facilitate taxpayers in filing the income tax returns.
The FBR issued instructions to this effect to all Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) on Wednesday. Sources told Business Recorder that the decision was taken in a recent meeting held at the FBR and chaired by FBR Member Inland Revenue Khawar Khurshid Butt to discuss issues to increase the number of return filers by the employees working in different government and semi-government organisations including armed forces and other government departments.
According to FBR instructions to the field formations, FBR Chief (Income Tax Policy) suggested sending experts to big offices/organisations for example Air Headquarters, Naval Headquarters, GHQ, PTCL, PIA Headquarters, Pak. Secretariat etc for facilitating the taxpayers in filing their returns. All Chief Commissioners should, therefore, organise this campaign and send a list to the Board of venues/organisations where facilitation teams are proposed to be sent.
In order to create awareness among general public about payment of tax and filing of returns and statements, it was decided that the Chief Commissioners will use vehicles as mobile Tax Facilitation Centres (TFCs). The Panaflex banners should be pasted on all APVs to make them effective tool of advertisement.
The meeting noted that in view of the definitions inserted in Section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 the scope of withholding agents has been expanded manifold. In order to manage the deduction and collection of withholding tax in an effective manner the Chief Commissioners should organise training workshops for withholding agents in their respective jurisdiction. In this connection, the Member (IR) directed that SOP circulated by the Board must be followed and the time-lines be adhered.
For facilitation of taxpayers it was decided that an e-filing Room will be set up in FBR HQ which will be managed by Director General, LTU Islamabad. The equipment will be provided by general manager Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and the space will be made available by Administration Wing. This facility will cater to the e-filing needs of civil servants of federal government. The Chief Com-
missioners will set up similar facilities in their respective jurisdiction offering assistance to the taxpayers in provincial and District Headquarters, sources said. Director General HRM said that arrangement for imparting Customer Facilitating Training to 600 employees has been made. The Chief Commissioners should make their staff available by sending lists of officers/officials immediately to HRM Wing under intimation to Member (IR).
A training room will be set up in each RTO/LTU for which Computers and Multi-media System will be provided. DG (HR) will arrange resource persons. Member (IR) desired that training at Rawalpindi and Islamabad RTOs should start by July 7, 2011, the FBR said.
The meeting also discussed taxpayers' facilitation, training of human resource and plan for placing teams at various locations eg big markets and important organisations. Other issues included arrangements for e-filing of returns and statements, identification of expert officers/officials in e-filing as well as their requirement for further training, if any. The matters pertaining to jurisdiction within RTOs namely, function of appeal effects, rectifications etc were also discussed in the meeting.