ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has established the Overseas Pakistanis Grievances Redressal Cell (OPGRC) in the FTO Secretariat to deal with the complaints of overseas Pakistanis against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

In this connection, the FTO office has issued an office order here on Friday for the establishment of the Cell with immediate effect.

According to the FTO, the OPGRC shall be headed by Almas Ali Jovindah, Advisor Legal, FTO Secretariat.

The OPGRC’s work shall be regulated by the provisions of Section 2 of the Establishment of the Office of Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance 2000 defining maladministration and Section 9ibid stipulating jurisdiction of the FTO Office.

The complaints relating to Income Tax/Customs/Sales Tax/Federal Excise lodged by any overseas Pakistani shall be taken up with FBR/relevant tax-authority for a report/redressal within 15 days of its receipt and complainants will be kept informed about the progress/redressal of their cases through E-mail, WhatsApp, voice messages and Phone.

In case the relevant tax authority fails to redress the grievance, lodged with it, within 30 days, it shall be automatically transferred to the Complaint Management Information System (CMIS)of FTO Secretariat for further investigation and allocation to the relevant Advisor/Investigation Officer in terms of Federal Tax Ombudsman Investigation and Disposal of Complaints Regulations, 2001.

The order said that close liaison shall be maintained with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Pakistanis &Human Resource Development, Labour and Manpower, Pakistan Missions Abroad, Community Welfare Attaches and Labour Attaches abroad to facilitate early redressal of taxpayers’ grievances and follow up.

The FTO order added that the systemic issues will be taken-up with FBR on regular basis and the monthly progress report shall be submitted to the Hon’ble FTO for information and future guidance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022