Karachi, August 9, 2024 – The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, has pledged prompt action on taxpayer complaints, vowing to deliver justice within 4-6 weeks. Addressing the SITE Association of Industry during his recent visit,
Dr. Jah emphasized the FTO’s authority to tackle maladministration and malpractices within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), ensuring that the FTO’s decisions are implemented without delay.
Accompanied by senior officials from his office, Dr. Jah reassured industrialists that the FTO monitors any backlash from the FBR against those filing complaints. A notification has already been issued to prevent any such retaliatory actions, underscoring the FTO’s commitment to protecting taxpayer rights. He revealed that the FTO office received over 8,000 complaints last year, with 90% resolved and implemented. Thanks to the FTO’s efforts, the FBR has refunded PKR 17.8 billion to taxpayers, with 510 out of 590 FTO decisions ratified by the President of Pakistan.
Dr. Jah highlighted proactive measures taken by the FTO, including actions on SRO-350 issues and customs duty-related goods accumulating at ports. In a significant gesture, he announced the nomination of an Advisor from the SITE Association of Industry to further strengthen cooperation.
SITE President Muhammad Kamran Arbi welcomed Dr. Jah, lauding his efforts and recognizing his unique position as the first FTO with an FBR background. Arbi noted the significant trust deficit between taxpayers and tax authorities, particularly for SMEs, who struggle with tax compliance due to the misuse of authority by tax officials.
Former SITE Presidents Jawed Bilwani and Tariq Yousuf echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability within the FBR. Bilwani pointed to the high rate of taxpayer victories in FTO decisions as evidence of systemic issues within the FBR. He called for the elimination of manual refund processing, advocating for full reliance on the FBR’s electronic records to reduce corruption.
Yousuf criticized the government’s stance on industrialization and urged the FTO to hold those responsible for creating and misusing bad laws accountable. He argued that such actions would begin the process of systemic reform.
Riaz Uddin, Chairman of the Association’s Taxation Sub-Committee, presented a detailed briefing to Dr. Jah, focusing on the persistent issues faced by industries, particularly the deliberate delays and denials of sales tax refunds by the FBR. He called for the FTO to take suo moto action against systemic tax maladministration and conduct surprise inspections of tax offices with questionable reputations.
The event concluded with the presentation of the Association’s Shield to Dr. Jah, as SITE’s senior officials expressed their gratitude for his visit and ongoing efforts to ensure justice for industrial taxpayers.
