ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday notified rules to make Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRC) functional for cases in sales tax and federal excise.
The FBR issued SROs 488 and 489 (I)/2019 to notify the rules. The ADRC is required to decide a case within 120 days and the decision will have binding effect on both taxpayers and tax officials.
Under the rules any person interested for resolution of any dispute shall make a written application for alternative dispute resolution to the FBR.
The FBR, after examination of contents of the application and facts stated therein and on satisfaction that the application may be referred to a Committee for the resolution of the hardship or dispute, shall appoint and notify a Committee, within a period of sixty days from receipt of the application.
A retired judge not below the rank of District and Sessions Judge, appointed in a manner as aforesaid, shall be Chairperson of the Committee.
After notification of the Committee, the applicant or the Commissioner or both, as the case may be, shall withdraw appeal pending before any court of law or an appellate authority relating to the hardship or dispute stated in the application.
The Committee shall commence proceedings after receipt of order of withdrawal of appeal from the FBR.
The chairperson of the Committee shall be responsible for deciding the procedure to be followed by the Committee which may, inter-alia, include the following, namely:-
(a) to decide about the place of sitting of the Committee, in consultation with the Chief Commissioner having jurisdiction over the applicant;
(b) to specify date and time for conducting proceedings by the Committee;
(c) to supervise the proceedings of the Committee;
(d) to issue notices by courier or registered post or electronic mail to the applicant;
(e) to requisition and produce relevant records or witnesses from the Commissioner or other concerned quarters;
(f) to ensure attendance of the applicant for hearing either in person or through an advocate, representative or a tax consultant;
(g) to consolidate decision of the Committee and communicate it to the Board, the Commissioner and the applicant; and
(h) for any other matter covered under these rules.
The Committee may conduct inquiry, seek expert opinion, direct any officer of Inland Revenue or any other person to conduct an audit and make recommendations to the Committee in respect of dispute or hardship.
The Committee may determine the issue and may thereafter seek further information or data or expert opinion or make or cause to be made such inquiries or audit as it may deem fit, to decide the matter.
The Committee shall decide the dispute within one hundred and twenty days from the date of receipt of order of withdrawal from the FBR.
Decision of majority members of the Committee shall be construed decision of the Committee which shall be communicated by the Committee to the FBR, the Commissioner having jurisdiction and the applicant.
The decision of the Committee shall be binding on the Commissioner and the aggrieved person.
On receipt of the Committee’s decision, the applicant shall make payment of sales tax and other taxes as specified by the Committee in its decision and the Commissioner shall modify order as per decision of the Committee.
