Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has strongly condemned that the staff of FBR handling the sales tax registration process dishonestly and delaying the registration process.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, the KTBA said the same is ended up in delay of business activity of an enterprise without any reason just on their discretion and using the verification tool as a hurdle to finalise the sales tax registration process, if somebody grease the wheel of sales tax registration process, the registration will be immediately handed over without any due verification, otherwise this process is taking three to four months and the taxpayer has to go pillar to post from all the level of LRO and everybody is making a stereo-type reply and nobody is willing to address the grievance of the taxpayer, without being greased.
This attitude of FBR official has been main obstacle in enhancing the number of registered sales taxpayer, even the conversion of status of sales tax registered payer is also made cumbersome and delay tactics are also used to give tough time for the fulfilment of their vested interest.
FBR has issued the letter No C. No 1(7) S-IR-Coord/2011/478 dated June 13, 2011 that the registration should be completed in 15 days but due to misreporting from the field officers about the fake refund scandals. The FBR is not taking any action on this issue, despite the multiple complaints from bars and trade bodies, which is not appropriate as any fake refund cannot be issued without the connivance of the field officers.
The KTBA urged the government to look into this issue of the new taxpayers and make it transparent and time efficient and direct the officers concern to issue the sales tax registration after all verification within 15 days, otherwise serious action should be taken against all the officers involved in delaying the sales tax registration. However, strict check should be maintained while issuing the Sales Tax Refunds.-PR