Promoting tax culture: FTOs seek to instill confidence in potential taxpayers

Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat (FTOS) is trying its optimum best to promote tax culture in Pakistan by facilitating taxpayers and creating confidence in the new and potential taxpayers, said Irshad Sheikh Director General Secretariat of the Federal Tax Ombudsman.
Addressing an awareness session regarding FTO in Faisalabad here on Friday, he said the patriotic business community is fully aware of its genuine tax liabilities. Similarly, the FTO secretariat is also trying to bridge the difference between the taxpayers and tax-collectors with efficient redressal system of complaints.
He said that taxpayers could approach the FTO secretariat in case of any maladministration by income tax or sales tax officials. He assured that these complaints would be immediately resolved and FTO secretariat will also take measures to avoid any recurrence of such complaints in future.
Representing the business community of Faisalabad Engineer Muhammad Saeed Sheikh President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) said that business community is contributing 60 percent towards the total tax revenue but the taxpayers and tax-collectors are always at daggers drawn due to the procedural discrepancies. He appreciated the efforts of FTO secretariat in resolving these differences within minimum possible time and without adding any financial burden on the complainants.
He further said that during 2016 the local FTO office received total 102 complaints, out of which 91 have been disposed off. He said that it is a great achievement and we appreciate the advisors of the local FTO office. He said that FTO secretariat should also take measures for the immediate clearance of pending refund claims which is main cause of concern for the industrialists as well as exporters. He also appreciated the co-operation of the in charge FTO office Haji Ahmad and hoped that co-operation between FCCI and the local office of FTO will be further strengthened in the near future.