Submission of data to PAC: FBR takes enforcement measures at LTUs, RTOs

The Federal Board of Revenue has taken enforcement measures at the level of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to ensure submission of complete documents and data to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to avoid any drubbing from the committee.
In this connection, the FBR has issued instructions to the LTUs and RTOs here on Saturday. According to instructions, the FBR has observed that the departmental accounts committee (DAC) meetings were not taken seriously and low priority was accorded by most of the field formations.
The representation was left to subordinate staff and even they were not aware of the current position of the cases. Working papers were not updated and in majority of the cases, no action was initiated even after lapse of a decade. As such, no meaningful headway was made and the meetings were waste of time and resources.
The FBR said that the PAC took a serious view of the lack of commitment and seriousness of the filed formations of the FBR in dealing with the Audit paras and desired immediate redressal/improvement. Therefore, to make the DAC meetings meaningful, following guidelines/instructions have been issued.
First, the LTU/RTO/MCC/ Directorate General/Board will be represented by the concerned Commissioner/ Collector/Director/ Chief, who should come well prepared and conversant with the Audit Paras. Secondly, the discussion, submission regarding latest position, of the para1 explanation of any lapse and future action will be made by the senior officer representing the field formation and not by a subordinate officer/staff. Thirdly, in any exceptional case, where the Commissioner/ Collector/Director/ Chief cannot attend a particular meeting, request for the same be made to the Board by the Chief Commissioner/Chief Collector/Director General/Member before the DAC meeting.
Fourthly, each page of the Working Paper must be initiated or signed by the Commissioner/ Collector/Director/Chief and a hard copy should reach Revenue Receipt Audit (RRA) one day before verification. A soft copy of the Working Paper along with a hard copy and supporting documents must be submitted to the Board at-least a day before the DAC.
Fifthly, each Working Paper must indicate the past proceedings and progress made since institution of the para (dates of Show Cause Notice, Orders, Hearings Notices etc). Sixthly, besides the latest position of the para, the Working Paper should also include the directions given by the previous DAC, action taken by the field formation and must identify the person(s) responsible for any inaction or delay in the progress.
Seventh, the Chief or a Secretary Inland Revenue/Customs, FBR to attend the DAC meetings, observe and report the progress/performance made by the field formations to their Members, explain the current position of the references referred to the Board and initiate corrective action, if any, on the directions of the DAC.
Eight, the representing Officer of the field formation may bring supporting staff, including a stenographer and a laptop for assistance. Ninth, after the DAC a brief regarding performance of each field formation will be sent to the Member/Director General/Chairman, FBR, Board instructions added.