Legal backing for IRS, PCS sought: FBR wants rules amended

The Federal Board of Revenue has asked the Cabinet Division to amend the Rules of Business 1973 for giving legal backing to the newly created Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service under the government rules and regulations. Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that the FBR has issued a letter to the Cabinet Division for amendment to the Rules of Business 1973.
According to sources, the name of Central Board of Revenue, an attached Department of Revenue Division has been changed as Federal Board of Revenue under the FBR, Act 2007. Apart from this a new Occupational Service namely Inland Revenue Service has been created and existing Customs & Excise Group named as Pakistan Customs Service vide Establishment Division''s OM dated September 12, 2009. Cabinet Division is therefore, requested that necessary amendments in the Rules of Business, 1973 may be made.
As a result of proposed amendment in the Rules of Business, the functions of the Revenue Division would cover tax policy, tax administration, avoidance of double Taxation Agreements with other countries and administration of Pakistan Customs Service and Inland Revenue Service.
The FBR has also proposed amendment in the list of the attached departments declared as such by the federal government. Through the proposed amendment in the Rules of Business, the tax authorities have replaced CBR with the FBR as an attached department of the Revenue Division. The FBR has proposed following amendments in the Rules of Business 1973: {Schedule-II (Rule 3(3)} - {under the heading Distribution of Business among the Divisions).
(Rules 27-A)At S. No 4, Administration of Customs and Excise and Income Tax Group may be substituted with Pakistan Customs Service and Inland Revenue Service, respectively. At S. No 5 the word Central Board of Revenue may be substituted with Federal Board of Revenue.
{Schedule-III (Rule 4(4)} - {under the heading List of Attached Departments declared as such by the Federal Government. In Rule 89A, The word Central Board of Revenue be substituted with Federal Board of Revenue, the FBR proposals added.