Karachi, September 7, 2023 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has introduced a policy to compensate taxpayers for delayed income tax refunds.
Effective from July 1, 2023, the FBR is required to pay an amount equal to KIBOR (Karachi Interbank Offered Rate) plus 0.5 percent per annum for refunds that have been delayed.
This significant development is in line with Section 171 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which outlines the mechanism for compensating taxpayers for the inconvenience caused by delayed refunds. Section 171 states:
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(1) Where a refund due to a taxpayer is not paid within three months of the date on which it becomes due, the Commissioner shall pay to the taxpayer a further amount by way of compensation at the rate of KIBOR plus 0.5 per cent per annum of the amount of the refund computed for the period commencing at the end of the three-month period and ending on the date on which it was paid:
Provided that where there is reason to believe that a person has claimed the refund which is not admissible to him, the provision regarding the payment of such additional amount shall not apply till the investigation of the claim is completed and the claim is either accepted or rejected.
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(2) For the purposes of this section, a refund shall be treated as having become due —
(a) in the case of a refund required to be made in consequence of an order on an appeal to the Commissioner (Appeals), an appeal to the Appellate Tribunal, a reference to the High Court, or an appeal to the Supreme Court, on the date of receipt of such order by the Commissioner; or
(b) in the case of a refund required to be made as a consequence of a revision order under section 122A, on the date the order is made by the Commissioner; or
(c) in any other case, on the date the refund order is made.
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Explanation: For the removal of doubt, it is clarified that where a refund order is made on an application under subsection (1) of section 170, for the purpose of compensation, the refund becomes due from the date the refund order is made and not from the date the assessment of income treated to have been made by the Commissioner under section 120.
This policy aims to protect the rights of taxpayers and ensure they receive prompt and fair treatment from the tax authorities. The compensation will help alleviate financial burdens caused by delays in processing income tax refunds, ultimately promoting transparency and efficiency within the taxation system.
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Taxpayers who have experienced delays in receiving their refunds are encouraged to reach out to the FBR to ensure they receive the compensation they are entitled to under this new regulation.
