Implementation of decision: FTO seeks relevant record, witnesses

Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) office has directed Chief Commissioner Regional Tax Office (RTO) Gujranwala and all others concerned to submit status of the case of non-implementation on its order passed in a complaint filed by M/s. Master Tiles & Ceramic Industries Limited last year.
In this regard, Tariq Yousuf, Advisor (I&M) Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat, Lahore, has issued directions to all the concerned to appear before the hearing at the regional FTO office on Tuesday (December 6, 2016) for implementation of findings decision of the FTO in case number 53/ISD/IT (39)648/2015. The regional office of the FTO has asked all concerned to bring relevant record and witnesses for examination.
Talking to Business Recorder, Hassan Kamran Bashir Advocate for the complainant said that the FTO had ordered the FBR to hold an inquiry against those officers/officials of Intelligence and Investigation Wing of the FBR, who were allegedly involved in the leakage of confidential information. It was observed in the said order that the act of I&I was against the relevant provisions of section 216 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 as they were supposed to keep the information confidential, till the final outcome of the case.
Hassan Kamran Bashir Advocate further said that both of the parties filed reviews against the order of the FTO, which were dismissed by Chairman (FTO) Abdul Rauf Chaudhry on the grounds that the scope of review was quite narrow and main case could not be re-argued in review proceedings. Both of the parties filed representations against the orders in review before the President of Pakistan being the last and final forum. The President's secretariat upheld the order in original of the FTO and dismissed representations of both of the parties. The net effect of the above proceedings is that the order, whereby the FTO directed the FBR to conduct an inquiry against the officers/officials involved in leaking the confidential information, has become effective and holds field.
According to the lawyer, the FTO has assigned the inquiry of the case to another deputy director of the said agency. The fact that the implementation and monitoring cell of the FTO is actively pursuing implementation on its orders shall not only boost taxpayers' confidence in the system of revenue collection, but also set conventions to avoid undue embarrassment of the taxpayers through publication of premature issues against the taxpayers causing irreparable loss to the their goodwill and reputation, he added.