RGST regime: over 350 audit officers' post upgraded

The Federal Board of Revenue has upgraded the posts of over 350 Inland Revenue Audit officers from Grade-16 to Grade-17, which would play a crucial role in carrying out transparent audit under the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) regime. Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that the FBR has informed the Ministry of Finance about the upgradation of the post of Inland Revenue Audit Officers from Grade-16 to 17.
The audit would be most important tool under the self-assessment regime of the RGST. Keeping in view the documentation of wholesalers, dealers and retailers under the RGST, these 350 audit officers would assist the FBR in carrying out necessary audit as per General Sales Tax Bill 2010. The scope of audit would be considerably enhanced under the RGST and over 350 audit officers would not only help in documentation of un-registered persons, but could also facilitate in data matching to determine the annual threshold of Rs 7.5 million of the unregistered persons. It is expected that a large number of wholesalers, dealers and retailers would come into the tax net after enforcement of the RGST for which 350 audit officers would play their due role under the GST Bill 2010.
The GST Bill 2010 has particularly focused on the audit methodology to ensure proper audit without causing harassment to the business and trade. In the new system of the RGST, audit would be the most important deterrent to avert cases of tax frauds and evasion of taxes. In these circumstances, the FBR workforce of over and above 350 audit officers would be equipped with necessary tools to conduct different kinds of audits including desk-audit under the new regime of the RGST.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Afzal Malik President Inland Revenue Audit Officer Association congratulated more than 350 Inland Revenue Audit Officers of FBR on the issuance of upgradation notification issued by the FBR. The association has also requested the Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to direct the concerned officers to issue formal notification in accordance with Establishment Division and FBR notifications. The Association fully assured the Chairman FBR Sohail Ahmed for their full support regarding the implementation of RGST.
More than 350 audit officers play key role in the collection of revenue and broadening of the tax base particularly in the RGST regime. They are highly qualified and professionally competent officers in FBR. They all have 8 to 14 years sales tax and federal excise experience. All the audit officers posted as Unit In-charge have shown satisfactory performance in the field formations, Afzal Malik added.