Author: Faisal Shahnawaz

Section 227A and Section 227B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 have laid down procedure for reward to officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and whistleblowers in recovery of tax evaded amount.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 updated up to June 30, 2021. The Ordinance incorporated amendments brought through Finance Act, 2021.

Following is the text of Section 227A and Section 227B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

227A. Reward to officers and officials of Inland Revenue.— (1) In cases (i) involving concealment or evasion of income tax and other taxes, cash reward shall, only after realization of part or whole of the taxes involved in such cases, be sanctioned to the officers and officials of Inland Revenue for their meritorious conduct in such cases and (ii) for other meritorious services and to the informer providing credible information leading to such detection.

(2) The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe the procedure in this behalf and also specify the apportionment of reward sanctioned under this section for individual performance or to collective welfare of the officers and officials of Inland Revenue.

227B. Reward to whistleblowers.—(1) The Board may sanction reward to whistleblowers in cases of concealment or evasion of income tax, fraud, corruption or misconduct providing credible information leading to such detection of tax.

(2) The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe the procedure in this behalf and also specify the apportionment of reward sanctioned under this section for whistleblowers.

(3) The claim for reward by the whistleblower shall be rejected, if—

(a) the information provided is of no value;

(aa) the information is not supported by any evidence;

(b) the Board already had the information;

(c) the information was available in public records; or

(d) no collection of taxes is made from the information provided

from which the Board can pay the reward.

(4) For the purpose of this section, “whistleblower” means a person who reports concealment or evasion of income tax leading to detection or collection of taxes, fraud, corruption or misconduct, to the competent authority having power to take action against the person or an income tax authority committing fraud, corruption, misconduct, or involved in concealment or evasion of taxes.”

Following are the text of Section 227C, Section 227D and Section 227E:

227C. Restriction on purchase of certain assets. [this section has been deleted through Finance Act, 2019]

227D.- Automated impersonal tax regime.- (1) The Board may design an alternate impersonal taxation regime whereby personal interaction will be minimized.

(2) The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, prescribe the procedure in this behalf.

(3) This section shall be applicable only for low risk and compliant taxpayers as may be prescribed.

227E. E-hearing.— (1) The Board may design and prescribe e-hearing module for the purpose of conducting hearings, granting opportunity of being heard and electronically receiving any information for the purpose of this Ordinance.

(2) The recording of e-hearing proceedings shall be admissible as evidence before any forum or court of law for the purpose of this Ordinance.

(3) The Board may make rules for the purpose of this section.

(Disclaimer: The text of the above section is only for information. Team PkRevenue.com makes all efforts to provide the correct version of the text. However, the team PkRevenue.com is not responsible for any error or omission.)

No legal proceedings in civil courts against tax orders

Section 227 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 has explained that no suit or other legal proceedings would be brought in any civil court against any order made under this ordinance.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 updated up to June 30, 2021. The Ordinance incorporated amendments brought through Finance Act, 2021.

Following is the text of Section 227 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

227. Bar of suits in Civil Courts.— (1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be brought in any Civil Court against any order made or any notice issued under this Ordinance, and no prosecution, suit or other proceedings shall be made against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Ordinance or any rules or orders made or notices issued thereunder.

“Explanation.—For the removal of doubt, it is clarified that Civil Court includes any court exercising power of the civil court.”

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no investigation or inquiry shall be undertaken or initiated by any governmental agency against any officer or official for anything done in his official capacity under this Ordinance, rules, instructions or direction made or issued there-under without the prior approval of the Board.

(Disclaimer: The text of the above section is only for information. Team PkRevenue.com makes all efforts to provide the correct version of the text. However, the team PkRevenue.com is not responsible for any error or omission.)

Computation of limitation period under section 226

Section 226 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 explains the computation of the limitation period.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 updated up to June 30, 2021. The Ordinance incorporated amendments brought through Finance Act, 2021.

Following is the text of Section 226 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

226. Computation of limitation period.—In computing the period of limitation, there shall be excluded –

(a) in the case of an appeal or an application under this Ordinance, the day on which the order complained of was served and, if the taxpayer was not furnished with a copy of the order when the notice of the order was served on the taxpayer, the time requisite for obtaining a copy of such order; and

(b) in the case of an assessment or other proceeding under this Ordinance,—

(i) the period, if any, for which such proceedings were stayed by any Court, Appellate Tribunal or any other authority; or

(ii) the period, if any, for which any proceeding for the tax year remained pending before any Court, Appellate Tribunal or any other authority.

(Disclaimer: The text of the above section is only for information. Team PkRevenue.com makes all efforts to provide the correct version of the text. However, the team PkRevenue.com is not responsible for any error or omission.)

Proceedings against companies under liquidation

Section 225 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 grants the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) the authority to continue or initiate proceedings against companies undergoing liquidation without the need for leave from the Court.

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Section 221 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 describes that the commissioner can rectify any mistakes apparent from the record.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 updated up to June 30, 2021. The Ordinance incorporated amendments brought through Finance Act, 2021.

Following is the text of Section 221 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

221. Rectification of mistakes.— (1) The Commissioner, the Commissioner (Appeals) or the Appellate Tribunal may, by an order in writing, amend any order passed by him to rectify any mistake apparent from the record on his or its own motion or any mistake brought to his or its notice by a taxpayer or, in the case of the Commissioner (Appeals) or the Appellate Tribunal, the Commissioner.

(1A) The Commissioner may, by an order in writing, amend any order passed under the repealed Ordinance by the Deputy Commissioner, or an Income Tax Panel, as defined in section 2 of the repealed Ordinance to rectify any mistake apparent from the record on his own motion or any mistake brought to his notice by a taxpayer and the provisions of sub-section (2), sub-section (3) and sub-section (4) shall apply in like manner as these apply to an order under sub-section (1).

(2) No order under sub-section (1) which has the effect of increasing an assessment, reducing a refund or otherwise applying adversely to the taxpayer shall be made unless the taxpayer has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(3) Where a mistake apparent on the record is brought to the notice of the Commissioner or Commissioner (Appeals), as the case may be, and no order has been made under sub-section (1) before the expiration of the financial year next following the date on which the mistake was brought to their notice, the mistake shall be treated as rectified and all the provisions of this Ordinance shall have effect accordingly.

(4) No order under sub-section (1) may be made after five years from the date of the order sought to be rectified.

(Disclaimer: The text of the above section is only for information. Team PkRevenue.com makes all efforts to provide the correct version of the text. However, the team PkRevenue.com is not responsible for any error or omission.)

Receipts for amounts paid under section 220

Section 220 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, explicitly states that the Commissioner is obligated to provide a receipt for any tax or amount paid under this ordinance.

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Section 219 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 now dictates that the amount of tax or refund should be computed to the nearest rupee, with fractions less than fifty paisa disregarded and those equal to or exceeding fifty paisa treated as one rupee.

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