Computer and stationery units: trade bodies voice concern over DII&IR notices

The business and trade bodies of Rawalpindi/Islamabad including Islamabad Stationers Association and Pakistan Computer Association have shown serious concern over the notices of the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue FBR issued to purchasers/vendors for getting supplies from units involved in fraudulent activities.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the vendors and purchasers of Islamabad Stationers Association (ISA) and Pakistan Computer Association have made purchases from these units when the same were not suspended or blacklisted. At that time these suppliers were active and compliant taxpayers and the vendors and purchasers were not aware of the fact that they would be involved in any fraudulent activities. Later, the tax department detected that such units/suppliers have been involved in tax frauds.
However, during the period of purchases made from these units, the department has declared them as compliant and active taxpayers. Now, the notices have been issued to the purchasers instead of recovery of the amount from the actual persons involved in tax frauds. The agency of IR has also sought past tax record of six years from the purchasers and vendors of computer industry and stationary units. It is almost impossible to provide all details of past record of purchases and supplies for the last six years. Such kind of notices of the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue FBR has created harassment among the business and trade.
The intelligence agency of the IR has involved the entire supply chain in the tax fraud without realising the fact that the purchases have obtained supplies from these units at the time when these suppliers were not involved in tax fraud. It was the prime responsibility of the tax department to check the supplies related data through electronic system. It is unfortunate that the entire responsibility has been fixed on the innocent purchasers who have nothing to do with their suppliers showing correct data in the past. If they have suddenly been involved in tax fraud, how the purchasers could be held responsible for the fraudulent activities of their suppliers, they raised question.
There is a panic like situation among the vendors of Islamabad Stationers Association and Pakistan Computer Association, who are helpless to deal with the issue as nobody in the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue FBR is ready to hear their viewpoint and factual status on the issue, traders said.
Sources said that the trade bodies of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have shown resentment over the tactics used by FBR's concerned departments based on undue harassment of business community of the twin cities. During an emergency meeting held at the office of ISA, which was participated by a large number of representatives from various business sectors, the speakers expressed grave concern over the issuance of the notices to business community both from the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, FBR Lahore as well as Karachi on the pretext of alleged tax fraud.
The speakers said that this harassment should be stopped immediately and proper procedure of law should be followed. They added that any case related to Rawalpindi and Islamabad should be referred to concerned Regional Tax Office. The representatives of business community said that all related procedures of FBR regarding issuance of invoices and charged inputs are being followed by the business community and the same have been accepted by the concerned departments.
However, in case of any discrepancy or omission, proper procedures need to be adopted to intimate about such cases. Any harassment by above mentioned department to business community would be unacceptable. Therefore, the high officials of the FBR should look in to matter and protect business community from such negative tactics being employed against them.