According to the notice of the meeting, Policy board meeting would be attended by ex-officio members i.e. Finance Minister Asad Umer, Minister of Privatization Muhammad Mian Soomro and Senator Farooq H Naik, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance. However, the nominated members, who are still to be notified, would attend the meeting as observers. The nominated members are Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azher, Senator Kauda Baber, Adviser for Commerce, Industries & Textile Industries Abdul Razzak Dawood, information technology professional Syed Javed, NADRA Chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin, former FBR Chairman Abdullah Yousaf, economist Dr Ijaz Nabi and former FBR Chairman Salman Siddique, it added.
Finance Minister Asad Umar has already re-constituted high-powered Tax Reforms Implementation Committee to implement and monitor the proposed recommendations of "Tax Reforms Commission". Terms of references (ToRs) of the committee will supervise implementation of the combined recommendations of FBR and TRC, subject to the approval of the federal government, and constitute sub-committee(s) to supervise the implementation of the recommendations approved by the federal government, the FBR added.
Tax Reform Commission had recommended that the FBR to be run by an independent board on an urgent basis. There should be separate and effective policymaking forum. The FBR should only be a revenue collection and policy implementation body, the TRC recommended.
The Tax Reform Implementation Committee (TRIC) has made short-term and long-term recommendations of the tax reform commission. Some of the recommendations of the Tax Reform Commission (TRC) included that FBR should on contract basis recruit HRM specialists and support team from private sector to develop HRM functions of FBR on professional lines. Current HRM staff should be trained so that their capacity is built up.
The TRC recommended creation of national data warehouse, border security force, proper valuation of immovable properties, simplification of laws, structural ethics and Grievance Redressal System both at Chief Commissioner/Collector level and FBR (HQs) and use of Mufassil Units for the purpose of broadening of tax base (BTB). Other short-term recommendations of the TRC were improvement in IT system/automation to reduce the cost of compliance and emphasis to curb corruption and liaison with NAB for implementation of recommendation against corruption.
Other short-term recommendations of the TRC included utilisation of Withholding tax data, utilisation of NADRA data for the purpose of BTB and changes in procedure of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The recommendations also included administrative reforms, taxation of small company, development of harmonised tax codes strengthening audit and capacity building of officers.