Karachi, September 12, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a directive to all Commissioners of Inland Revenue (CIR) Appeals, urging them to promptly forward high-revenue cases to the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR).
The FBR’s directive comes as part of its ongoing efforts to expedite the resolution of significant tax disputes and enhance revenue collection.
In a communication sent to the CIR Appeals, the FBR expressed concerns that several commissioners had yet to comply with earlier instructions to transfer cases exceeding their pecuniary jurisdiction to the tribunal. The communication reiterated the need for urgent compliance with this directive, emphasizing that all cases falling under the specified criteria should be referred to ATIR immediately for further proceedings.
The FBR’s Member (Legal-IR) also voiced concerns over the non-compliance of CIR Appeals and emphasized the importance of timely action. The tax authority has set a firm deadline of September 13, 2024, for all CIR Appeals to submit their cases. The FBR warned that failure to meet this deadline would result in appropriate action against non-compliant officials. Additionally, the commissioners have been instructed to submit a compliance certificate along with a detailed list of cases referred to the tribunal.
In its earlier instructions, the FBR highlighted that it had already forwarded a batch of 1,487 top revenue appeal cases to ATIR for expedited disposal. These cases include the top 10 high-revenue appeals that exceed the pecuniary limits of the CIR Appeals. These appeals, collected from various appellate offices across the country, are considered critical for boosting tax revenue collection and ensuring timely resolution of disputes.
The FBR aims to streamline the resolution process by prioritizing the transfer of these high-revenue cases to ATIR, where they can be processed and disposed of efficiently. By doing so, the tax authority hopes to resolve long-standing disputes that have hindered revenue collection.
The directive reflects the FBR’s commitment to addressing significant tax cases promptly, particularly those that have a substantial impact on the country’s revenue stream. This latest move is part of the FBR’s broader strategy to strengthen tax compliance and reduce delays in the appeals process, ensuring that major tax disputes are addressed without unnecessary delays.
CIR Appeals across the country are now under pressure to meet the stipulated deadline and avoid any potential administrative actions, as the FBR pushes for swift resolution of high-stakes tax cases.