Adviser to Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) (on customs and sales tax) Shahid Ahmad on Thursday claimed to have got released over Rs 6.89 billion tax refunds of exporters pending with tax authorities as a result of orders passed by FTO in 2018, as against Rs 3.2 billion in 2017. Also, he said the FTO Secretariat is focused on providing inexpensive and speedy justice to the taxpayers aggrieved by tax maladministration.
Addressing the officials of Pakistan Apparel Forum, during his visit to Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (PHMA) House on Thursday, Shahid said that FTO has emerged as an effective alternate legal forum for the resolution of tax related grievances of exporters as the office during last year received some 2,400 complaints from traders across the country whereby 25 percent were resolved at the initial stage, while 72 percent decisions of the complaints were arrived in the favour of taxpayers.
Of the total applications, some 54 were pertaining to income tax, 26 percent related to sales tax, 11 percent on customs. "Around 90 percent decisions made by FTO on such cases were implemented in letter and spirit. He said "the core function of FTO is disposal of complaints of tax maladministration promptly, justly, fairly, independently investigated, and to rectify any injustice done to a taxpayer by actions of FBR officials."
Presently, the focus of FTO Secretariat is on the implementation of the orders in the interest of justice for the taxpayers. Exchanging views, he articulated the taxpayers in their own interest should report to FTO the maladministration by FBR officials. He recalled that on the request of Pakistan Apparel Forum, FTO took cognizance of the grievances being faced by exporters regarding pending sales tax refunds, attachment of bank accounts, blacklisting and other taxation matters and had given orders to redress the grievances with compliance thereof to all concerned. FTO is exercising its powers to address the grievances and complaints.
Responding to the issues highlighted by Jawed Bilwani, chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum, he urged the exporters to file their complaints about their old refund cases and all other FBR related matters. He assured that FTO Secretariat shall consider taking motion against the procedural lacking, delaying tactics, harassment and maladministration of the FBR against taxpayers.
Earlier Muhammad Jawed Bilwani welcomed the chief guest and appreciated that FTO was providing speedy justice to the exporters in respect to their grievances about long pending refunds of sales tax, custom rebate and income tax etc.
To bring to the knowledge and cognizance of FTO, he said that previously the FBR deferred approx. 30 percent of sales tax refund claims and such claim cases are pending for the last 7 to 8 years.
He recalled that Zahid Khokhar the then Member Customs, FBR during his visit to PHMA in October, 2018 announced that effective from January, 2019 onwards, Custom rebates shall be paid electronically with export proceeds as a result of system automation, however, the plan has not been turned into reality as currently eight to nine months backlog is prevailing. He urged FTO to take cognizance of the matter.
He also proposed that hassle-free import of raw materials and intermediate goods for manufacturing of finished goods meant for export under the Export Facilitation Schemes such as DTRE be allowed to the registered textile exporters with Ministry of Textile Industry to enhance the exports to a considerable level and earn more foreign exchange.