Karachi, May 23, 2025 – In a significant move to improve tax compliance and strengthen audit operations, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced the deployment of approximately 520 third-party auditors across its various regional field formations.
This step marks the beginning of a broader transformation initiative aimed at accelerating the tax scrutiny process nationwide.
According to a formal statement issued by the FBR, this allocation of third-party auditors is the first phase of its ongoing FBR Transformation Plan. The newly recruited auditors will be stationed in three key regions: 120 in the North, 135 in the Central region, and 265 in the South. These placements are designed to boost FBR’s audit coverage and increase efficiency in identifying and addressing tax discrepancies.
To ensure a structured and consistent implementation, the FBR has issued detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing the onboarding and training of these third-party auditors. These SOPs are aimed at ensuring professional readiness, smooth integration into field formations, and the overall enhancement of audit quality.
The FBR emphasized that while HR firms are responsible for vetting the quality of the auditors, Evaluation Committees will be established in each region to review and finalize the suitability of candidates. These committees will work closely with the FBR headquarters and may conduct evaluations either in-person or virtually, based on logistical feasibility.
Each Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue (IR) will nominate a Focal Person at the BS-19 level or higher, who will act as a liaison between HR firms, regional field offices, and the FBR headquarters. These Focal Persons will be responsible for overseeing the onboarding process of the auditors, ensuring necessary arrangements such as office space, IT equipment, and administrative support.
Moreover, all auditors are required to undergo a mandatory three-week online training program organized by the IRS Academy. Focal Persons will be tasked with facilitating this training by coordinating schedules, venues, and attendance logistics.
As part of the onboarding process, HR firms will submit the final lists of selected auditors to FBR headquarters, which will then relay them to the respective Evaluation Committees. Immediate notification of Focal Persons will follow the release of the SOPs to expedite the deployment.
This initiative reflects the FBR’s growing reliance on third-party auditors to strengthen its institutional capacity and enforce tax compliance more rigorously.