ISLAMABAD: Tax officials have been restricted taxpayers interaction to barcode-based communication only, officials said on Tuesday.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a bar on officials of Inland Revenue and Pakistan Customs for direct communication with taxpayers effective from November 01, 2019.
However, the FBR authorized the officials to communicate taxpayers in legal notice or official communication with QR code/Bar code or any other code/manner prescribed under the law.
The FBR issued an official memorandum on October 28, 2019 prohibiting officials for personal interaction with taxpayers/business.
The FBR said that in view of prevailing perception of the FBR and also in order to do away with fake communication from some quarters and order to build confidence level of taxpayers, it has been decided that no officer/official of the FBR Headquarters or its field formation will contact with any taxpayer or businessman in any form i.e. physical visit, telephonic / mobile calls, SMS or email etc. except when legally authorized to do so, which in every case is to be a legal notice or official communication with QR code/Bar code or any other code/manner as may be prescribed under the law.
“This policy shall come into force from November 01, 2019 and any officer/official found indulged in such activity shall be proceeded against strictly under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 read with Government Servants (E&D) Rules, 1973.”
These directions shall apply to all formations of FBR being Inland Revenue (Income Tax, Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty) and Customs.
Taxpayers, business community and trade bodies have been asked to assist in implementing the policy by reporting to FBR any contravention of these directions.
The FBR circulated this memorandum to heads of departments, included: Members (FBR); Chief Commissioner (Inland Revenue); Chief Collectors (Customs); Director General (Inland Revenue); and Director General (Customs).
