ITMS suspension: Issuance of exemption certificates, tax adjustments in abeyance

The issuance of exemption certificates and the process of tax adjustments have been in abeyance for last six days, following the suspension of FBR's Integrated Tax Management System (ITMS); it is learnt here Friday. According to sources, the FBR through a letter in January informed the taxpayers that Exemption Certificates (EC) were only accepted, if the same was submitted through system.
Tax experts and importers termed the said decision illogical; saying that the board without organising training sessions for its officers has made it mandatory, which would create hazardous impact on businesses. However, the board has implemented the same in a haphazard manner, leaving the taxpayers in an uncertain state. They said that taxpayers had now been facing immense difficulties not only in processing exemption certificates but also in tax adjustments for last six days, due to malfunctioning of ITMS, causing to provide severe financial shocks to the trade. When contacted, Member IT Mrs Rana Ahmed could not be reached for comments.