Legalised vehicles under Amnesty Scheme: FTO, FIA teams formed to seize all records

Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Muhammad Shoaib Suddle has constituted joint teams of FTO Secretariat and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to seize all relevant records of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles legalised under the amnesty scheme for investigating alleged maladministration of tax officers in the whole process.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that Dr Shoaib Suddle has taken serious notice of the maladministration and irregularities in the implementation of SRO 172(I)/2013. FTO has decided to thoroughly scrutinise complete record maintained by certain Model Customs Collectorates (MCCs) with the help of FIA.
The FTO has formed inspection teams to check maladministration of tax employees in implementation of the amnesty scheme. The inspection teams would physically check the vehicles and verify it with the customs record. FTO Secretariat will cross check information to confirm whether regularised vehicles are physically present or not. Legalisation of tampered vehicles under the scheme would also be verified. It would be checked that any mis-declaration has been done during legalisation of smuggled cars.
FTO office has taken action against the amnesty scheme in three major areas including corruption, misuse and discrimination. Dr Suddle has issued necessary directives to the FBR, customs authorities, all advisors Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat and all Chief Collectors/Collectors of Customs in this connection.
Sources said that the FTO office will not reverse FBR's decision to extend the scheme up to April 6, 2013, but relevant record would be seized for further investigation to check massive irregularities in the implementation of SRO.172(I)/2013. On the basis of customs record, FTO office would ascertain whether proper duties and taxes have been assessed on the vehicles regularised under the scheme. It has been reported to the FTO Office that files of smuggled vehicles have been regularised in the absence of vehicles, which are physically present in Afghanistan and Dubai etc. In case vehicles have been genuinely regularised under the said SRO, the FTO office would have no objection. However, if any irregularity has been found during the regularisation of the vehicle, strict action would be taken against the concerned involved persons/officers.
Sources in FTO Office said that the action should be taken against smuggled vehicles instead of offering them amnesty scheme. The scheme instead of discouraging promotes smuggling. The smuggling should not be promoted, which has been done through offering amnesty scheme. Such kinds of schemes are not in the interest of the country. Such schemes are also discriminatory. In case of legal import, the fine is more as compared to smuggled cars. The customs rules are very strict on the import of old and used cars with higher rates of taxes, but the amnesty scheme is very liberal for the smuggled vehicle, which is unjustified. At the same time if serious irregularities are committed during implementation of the amnesty scheme, it is a serious offence, official maintained.
According to the FTO Office letter dated April 2, 2013 to the Muhammad Anwar Virk Director General FIA Federal Investigation Agency, FIA Headquarters, after receiving complaints about serious irregularities in the implementation of SRO 172(I)/2013, the Federal Tax Ombudsman has decided to constitute Inspection Teams under sections 17 and 23 of the FTO Ordinance. Each team will consist of an Officer of the FTO Establishment and a designated FIA Officer supported by other officers and staff.
The Officers of the FTO Establishment who have been assigned the task are former Justice M. Nadir Khan, Advisor (Quetta); Manzoor Hussain Kureshi, Advisor (Karachi); Haji Ahmad, Advisor (Sialkot/Sambrial); Muhammad Munir Qureshi, Advisor (Lahore) and Sardar Irshad Shaheen, Advisor (Peshawar).
Dr Shoaib Suddle further said that suitable FIA Officers designated for the purpose may be directed to immediately get in touch with the relevant officials of the FTO Office to proceed further in the matter, including seizure of relevant record of concerned Collectorates. As regards Customs stations at Multan, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Gwadur and Sust, the concerned FIA officials may seize the relevant record and send it to the FTO Secretariat at the specified address immediately, FTO office added.