Finalising tax-related disputes pending with ADRCs: FBR may grant one-time opportunity to taxpayers

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) may grant one-time opportunity to the business community to finalise tax-related disputes pending with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRCs) since 2005. Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the FBR is also reviewing the ADRC panels to resolve disputes between the tax department and taxpayers. At present, over 250 sales tax cases are pending with the ADRCs constituted in the past. Over 250 cases have been filed in different years by the taxpayers since 2005. Similarly, cases are also pending with customs and income tax departments.
According to sources, the FBR is also in the process of reviewing the ADRC panels. The FBR is also considering one-time opportunity to the taxpayers to follow their cases of the past for resolution of the disputes. The past cases pending for many years would be resolved to reduce overall pendency with the ADRCs.
Following approval of the tax authorities, the FBR will implement the proposed policy to expedite process of ADRCs and review ADRC panels. During the last meeting of Tax Reform Implementation Committee (TRIC), the issue of Alternate Dispute Resolution Committees (ADRCs) was discussed threadbare. The FBR Member (IR) Policy was of the view that implementation of the existing provisions in this respect was required by identifying cases riddled with factual controversies. Special Assistant to the PM and State Minister for Revenue, Haroon Akhtar had desired that such committees be revived keeping in view the existing legal framework.
It has been decided that the chairman FBR will constitute a subcommittee tasked with delineating the way forward/submitting proposals with regard to constitution of ADR committees in the existing legal framework till next TRIC meeting. The Member (Legal), FBR was nominated as the convenor of the committee and it was decided that there would an equal representation of members from within/outside FBR. Abid Shaban and Chief (HRM) were designated as members of the committee.