ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced the concept of 'agreed assessment' for the taxpayers, who wanted to settle their cases with the tax department, by offering tax before an assessment oversight committee.

According to the Finance Bill 2020, where a taxpayer, in response to a notice under sub-section (9) of section 122, intends to settle his case, he may file offer of settlement in the prescribed form before the assessment oversight committee (Committee), in addition to filing reply to the Commissioner.

The Committee after examining the aforesaid offer may call for the record of the case and after affording opportunity of being heard to the taxpayer, may decide to accept or modify the offer of the taxpayer through consensus and communicate its decision to the taxpayer.

Where the taxpayer is satisfied with the decision of the Committee, the taxpayer shall deposit the amount of tax payable including any amount of penalty and default surcharge as per decision of the Committee.

The Commissioner shall amend assessment in accordance with the decision of the Committee after tax payable including any amount of penalty and default surcharge as per decision of the Committee has been paid. The taxpayer shall waive the right to prefer appeal against such amended assessment; and no further proceedings shall be undertaken under this Ordinance in respect of issues decided by the Committee unless the tax has not been deposited by the taxpayer.

Where the Committee has not been able to arrive at a consensus or where the taxpayer is not satisfied with the decision of the Committee, the case shall be referred back to the Commissioner for decision on the basis of reply of the taxpayer in response to notice under 81 sub-section (9) of section 122 notwithstanding proceedings or decision, if any, of the Committee.

The Committee shall comprise the following income tax authorities having jurisdiction over the taxpayer, namely:- (a) the Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue; (b) the Commissioner Inland Revenue; and (c) the Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue.

This section shall not apply in cases involving concealment of income or where interpretation of question of law is involved having effect on other cases.

The Board may make rules regulating the procedure of the Committee and for any matter connected with, or incidental to the proceedings of the Committee.