Karachi: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has issued an urgent call to its members to report any instances of tax officials hiring privately employed individuals for assistance. This move follows a strict condemnation from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) against the practice, warning that it could result in disciplinary action for the officers involved.
In an official memorandum circulated to its members, the KTBA highlighted the seriousness of the issue, stating that the hiring of private staff by tax officers undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the tax system. The FBR’s stance on this matter is clear, with a firm directive that such actions are unacceptable and will be met with strict consequences.
“Members are urged to report any instance of this nature with the name of the officer, his unit or zone, and his staff name, without disclosing the identity of their respective cases,” the KTBA memorandum stated. This appeal is aimed at ensuring accountability and preventing further unethical practices within the tax administration.
The KTBA also assured its members that it would take up the matter vigorously with the Chief Commissioner level to halt these activities. The phenomenon of hiring private persons has been noted to be on the rise within Inland Revenue, a trend previously observed in Pakistan Customs.
A tax practitioner, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that at the level of Regional Tax Offices (RTOs), it is common for senior officers to employ private individuals for assistance with official work. This practice raises significant concerns as these privately hired individuals often have access to sensitive taxpayer information, including tax returns, assessments, and other critical correspondence.
Moreover, the practitioner noted that these individuals serve as conduits for corrupt practices among senior officers, thereby compromising the integrity of the tax administration system. The KTBA’s initiative to address this issue aims to safeguard the confidentiality and ethical standards of the tax profession.
The KTBA’s proactive stance is a crucial step in ensuring that the tax administration operates transparently and ethically, thereby protecting the interests of taxpayers and maintaining the credibility of the tax system.