Amassing revenue collection target: over 350 IRAOs show commitment to fully invoke provision of law

Over 350 Inland Revenue Audit Officers (IRAOs) have shown their full commitment to follow instructions of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for amassing revenue collection target of Rs 1,952 billion in 2011-2012 through enforcement actions, audit, recovery of illegal input tax adjustments, prosecution against fraudulent refund claimants and invoking provisions of law for documentation of economy.
Thanking on the up-gradation of their posts from Grade-16 to Grade-17, the senior representatives of the IRAOs told Business Recorder here on Sunday that they have not participated in any strike in the past and continue with the policy of dialogue with their senior management in the Board. Under current circumstances, the last quarter (April-June) 2011-2012 is the most crucial period as far as revenue collection is concerned. During April-June period, the IRAOs would also following directives of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation Inland Revenue and assist the tax authorities in discovering new taxpayers on the basis of policy guidelines of the FBR. The assigned target of Rs 1,952 billion could only be achieved when maximum efforts have been taken during the last three months of current fiscal. In this regard, IRAOs and particularly income tax officials can play their key role in the field formations to assist the Board in achievement of the assigned target. The implementation of the National Audit Plan to detect tax liability and recovery of the same will also be instrumental in generating additional revenue in the remaining period of current fiscal.
They said that the IRAOs would participate in all kinds of administrative and enforcement functions for completion of the given assignments as per instructions of the FBR. Whatever duties and functions would be given to the IRAO, we will enforce the law as per Board's instructions. If the FBR Chairman and FBR Member Inland Revenue can work late night everyday including Saturdays and Sundays, we will also work on 24 hours basis to play their role in meeting targets following instructions of the Board. Instructions of the FBR will be strictly followed to ensure compliance at the level of the field formations. The revenue collection for the whole fiscal depends on the performance in the last quarter for which the IRAOs would work on war footings as per guidelines and directives of the tax authorities. The efforts would be maximised so that the FBR would be able to assign higher targets for collecting revenue through enforcement and administrative actions in the next fiscal as compared to current target of over Rs 50 billion for 2010-2011.
Responding to a query, they said that the promotion of the IRAOs would not hurt promotion of their brothers on income tax side as both have separate lines of promotions. The promotions of the IRAOs have no conflict with the income tax officers.
According to sources, a CEC meeting was also conducted under the chair of Muhammad Afzal Malik, President FBR Inland Revenue Audit Officers Association here on Sunday at federal capital. He advised all Audit Officers to work hard and show up to the mark performance in all fields enforcement & audit particularly illegal input tax adjustment. FIRs may be lodged U/s 37 of the Sales Tax Act,1990 with the approval of Board and arrest tax fraudulent /massive tax evaders particularly who claimed illegal input tax adjustment/bogus refund claims by using enrich experience of prosecution. Stock taking/investigative audits may be started immediately U/s 38 and action may be taken U/s 40 B of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 in such cases where massive tax evasion is involved. Put all possible short term efforts to surpass budget target of Rs 1952 billion as per expectations of worthy chairman and learned Member IR.
Muhammad Afzal Malik President on behalf of IRAO Association thanked Chairman FBR Mumtaz Haider Rizvi, Raza Baqar Member Admn, Shahid Hussain Asad Member IR, Bakhtiar Muhammad Secretary IR, Ch. Muhamad Asghar chief Management and other senior officers of FBR. He particularly thanked Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh for their patronage and kind approval.
Meeting was attended by Rana Khalid Advisor to the President, Mian Muhammad Ibrahim Chief Co-ordinator, Afzal Khan Afridi SVP, Mian Muhammad Akram VP, Abidullah Jan Secretay General, Azhar Sherazi Secretary Information, Sohail Ahmed Secretary Finance and dozens of Audit Officers IR came from almost all field formations across the country.
Meanwhile, a press release of the FBR issued here on Sunday said: The proposals submitted by the "All Pakistan Tax Employees Association FBR" have been considered by the Federal Board of Revenue at length. The issues have also been discussed with the Central and Lahore Office Bearer of the "APTEA", namely Aslam Pervaiz, Asghar Ali Waryah and Akbar Hussain and the following decisions have been taken:-
1. That the 100 percent special allowance frozen in the Finance Bill 2011 has been agitated throughout the year with the observation that the said allowance is a performance based allowance. In this regard a summery for de-freezing the said allowance has been submitted to the Prime Minister of Pakistan through Ministry of Finance along with allocation of fund of Rs one billion. It has been confirmed that the Finance Secretary has approved the Summary of FBR and transmitted to the Prime Minister Secretariat. The approval is expected within few days. All the FBR officers/officials will be awarded the special allowance equal to 100% basic pay accordingly. It will be notified after receiving approval from the Office of the Prime Minister.
2. The issue of upgradation of Senior Auditors has also been resolved by issuing notification of up-gradation of senior auditors. The SRO 1126 dated 27-11-2010, clearly specifies a special promotion path of senior auditors which would remove all doubts of Grade 16- 17 IRS Officer's that up-gradation of senior auditors will adversely affect their promotion prospects.
3. The promotion of Inland Revenue officials from Grade 14-16 is also under active consideration of the Government and a notification to this effect is expected soon. Furthermore, the notification No 0883-IR-III-2012, dated 14-04-2012 appearing on FBR Website is self explanatory.
4. The Board has decided to upgrade all Class IV employees of FBR in line with the policy of the Establishment division. The notification is being issued shortly.
5. The Board has further decided to address all the long standing issues raised by the "All Pakistan Tax Employees Association FBR" through representation. All the employees of FBR are directed to devote untiring efforts to achieve the budgetary targets Rs1952 (billions).
6. The Board assured that their services will be recognised subject to their hard work in achieving the assigned targets.
7. The employees have assured the Board that they will assume office work immediately and will ensure that the assigned target of Rs 1,952 billion is achieved, even if they have to work extra hours and even on holidays, FBR press release added.