Sources told Business Recorder on Thursday that the Chairman FBR Ahmed Waqar has taken some important decisions to improve revenue collection, refund payments, integration of taxes and issues pertaining to administrative matters during his last visit to LTU, Karachi.
Following FBR decisions have been communicated to the field formation for compliance: Firstly, budgetary targets assigned to the field formations have to be achieved at any cost and due taxes would be recovered/collected in accordance with the law. All field officers are required to enhance their performance in this regard.
Secondly, refund claims have to be processed expeditiously. Only genuine claims are to be allowed whereas claims not fulfilling the procedural requirements should be forthwith rejected.
Thirdly, FBR would only deal with the tax policy matters and all other issues relating to the field formation shall be decided by the Director Generals. It has also been decided that the officials of direct taxes as well as indirect taxes would report to their respective Director Generals for all practical purposes. The DGs would be accountable for overall performance of the LTU/RTO.
Fourthly, tax facilitation should always be given top priority while dealing with the taxpayers. However, at the same time, audit should be undertaken effectively.
Fifthly, there should be no confusion or misgiving in anybody's mind regarding Tax Administration Reform Program (TARP) of the FBR and reform would move forward under all circumstances. FBR Chairman has conveyed this message to the tax officials in the field formations.
Sixthly, a mechanism should be developed at the Board's level to ensure that all systems available at FBR are integrated with each other so that duplicate efforts should be avoided and synergies are truly exploited.
Seventh, the FBR should ensure that access to data/information already available on different systems is provided at one platform and a uniform policy is adopted with regard to level of access to different tiers of officers. Eighthly, tax record could be examined for carrying out audit at the business premises if so requested by the taxpayer.
Ninthly, all officials of the newly inducted batch should be posted in the Sales Tax and Federal Excise after completion of training. The decision has been taken to overcome shortage of officers on Sales Tax and Federal Excise side.
Tenthly, tax officials also pointed out the issues relating to the problems in systems and rules. FBR Chairman declared that the trade facilitation is the top priority. Any suggestion for improvement in the system or existing rules and procedures should be made by the DGs. The amendments in the procedures required at the local level could be made by the respective DG etc. However, amendments in the tax laws recommended by the DGs would be considered at the board level.