ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday directed all officers / officials of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) to submit declaration of avoiding private consultancy.
The FBR issued a circular regarding bar against indulging in private consultancy / tax practice by officials / officers of FBR.
Previously, the FBR through a circular date April 28, 2022 directed the officers to completely abstain themselves from private consultancy / tax practice.
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“However, it has come to the notice that some employees of the FBR are still indulge in private consultancy / tax practices,” it added.
Through the latest circular, the FBR directed all the heads of IR offices to obtain undertaking from all officers/ officials posted under their administrative control, that they are not indulged in any private consultance / tax practices.
All heads of field formations of the FBR will provide a certificate within seven days to the FBR that undertaking from all officers/officials posted under their administrative control have been obtained.
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Through the previous circular dated April 28, 2022, the FBR stated that the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) initiated an own motion investigation regarding private practice by the employees of the FBR who joined local chambers or even opened their own law offices and rendered legal assistance to taxpayers in the evenings or even during office hours.
“Findings were recorded that many of the officers / officials of FBR associate themselves with different taxpayers and provide legal assistance to them in various taxation matters in total disregard of the instructions under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 whereunder no government servant is allowed to engage in any trade or undertake any employment or work, other than his official duties, except with the previous sanction of the government,” the FBR said.
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Furthermore, Estt, Div.’s O.M. No. 1/20/76-D-IV dated 6-3-1976 contains clear prohibitions regarding undertaking of private work by the government servants, it added.
FBR chairman took a serious view of the matter and all FBR employees are again directed to completely abstain themselves from private consultancy / tax practice.
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“Inland Revenue Operation Wing is putting in place a strong monitoring mechanism to ensure the compliance of FTO instructions,” the FBR said, adding that in future any officer / official is found involved in such practice, strict disciplinary action would be taken under Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020.
