It is reliably learnt that FTO has unearthed massive irregularities in the taxpayer registration system of FBR. FTO observed a serious loophole in the 'IRIS' module being exploited by the unauthorized and unscrupulous persons for their ulterior interests at the cost of innocent taxpayers and national exchequer.
It was cited in a landmark order issued by the FTO on the complaint by Zeeshan Shahid referred through Advocate Waheed Shahzad Butt. The FTO in its order has stated that by not pressing the condition of cell number of the CNIC holder, the department has opened floodgate for the unlawful and unauthorized persons to exploit the user free IRIS system for their nefarious designs.
Tax expert told this correspondent it is categorically reported by the CEO PRAL to FTO in the following unambiguous manner "The person got registration through IRIS system with email "[email protected]" and a cell number, whose owner is one Ahmed Ali as per mobile data. When contacted tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt, he told this correspondent "Quite surprisingly it was categorically stated by Rehmatullah Wazir, the then Member (Taxpayers Audit), in a report submitted on Automatic Selection for Audit under Section 214D that 428,830 returns belonging to taxpayers with NIL tax paid/NIL turnover but no one in FBR is willing to consider the aspects of potential planned tax evasion seriously." The lawyer has also forwarded a synopsis of potential revenue loss due to active connivance of FBR/IRIS/PRAL functionaries.
Waheed further added that the circumstances and highly suspect sequence of events discussed supra raise many questions and strongly suggest foul play by PRAL functionaries.
The FBR has been recommended to ensure that at the time of registration, the taxpayer should provide his own cell phone number duly registered in his name at least thirty (30) days prior to the registration also his/her email that also required in the original user free "IRIS" module, FTO ordered.