KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been urged to eliminate audit selection under various provisions of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 for the confidence building of taxpayers.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 submitted to the FBR, said that presently audit proceedings can be started u/s 177 as well as through balloting u/s 214C and like-wise enquiries can also be made by the Commissioner u/s 122(5A).
There is a concept of a special audit panel u/s 177(11) as well.
Sub-Section 7 is ambiguous and provides the Commissioner and his sub ordinates with a tool to harass, extort and victimize any taxpayer at will.
The Commissioner can reopen the audit of any person or firm at will on unsubstantiated grounds.
Under sub-Section 4 of Section 177, any person employed by a firm to conduct audit function may be authorized by the Commissioner to exercise powers under sections 175 and section 176.
The chamber said that the revenue collection through such recovery proceedings is hardly Rs.92 billion whereas the costs due to litigation, involvement of entire tax collection machinery and declining number of tax filers, is far more than the collection.
Multiple Audits under various provisions have eroded the trust of tax-payers in the FBR. RTOs and LTUs. Audit functions under various provisions have created confusion and complexity in tax regime.
Such provisions are also prone to misuse and a source of harassment.
The KCCI proposed that all Audit functions should be brought under one provision of Income Tax Ordinance rather than various over-lapping provisions with clear and well defined parameters.
Audit Parameters should be transparent and open to taxpayers.
Further, Sub-Section 7 may be deleted.
Powers of the Commissioner and sub-ordinate officials should be curtailed to restore the trust of taxpayers and encourage broadening of tax-base.
Such Audits should be restricted to specific queries or objections and call for relevant document only rather than opening and re-opening a comprehensive audit every time.
The chamber said that it will bring transparency and clarity to Audit functions and rules governing the same.
Prevent harassment to tax payers and abuse of powers by Inland Revenue officials. Broaden tax base by restoring confidence in the system.
