The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given a final deadline of February 26, 2020, to the steering committees for restructuring of the FBR, to submit their reports for reforming the tax machinery through creation of the Pakistan Revenue Authority.
According to a letter of the FBR to all chairpersons of the sub-committees on restructuring of the FBR, the deadline for submission of reports by the relevant sub-committees was January 20, 2020, which has expired.
The chairperson Steering Committee (Chairman FBR) has desired that the final reports may be submitted to the Steering Committee by February 26, 2020, the FBR added. The FBR had constituted consultative committees as well as sub-committees of the Steering Committee to address their concerns regarding "Restructuring of the FBR".
Earlier, the FBR had directed three consultative committees to submit their recommendations on restructuring of the board to newly-constituted FBR Steering Committee on reforms by November 20, 2019.
The FBR's sub-committees on reorganization, human resource, field formations and automation were required to submit their proposals to the FBR Steering Committee for consideration.
The deadlines have been missed and now the FBR has issued instructions to the chairpersons of the sub-committees to submit final reports by February 26, 2020.
The FBR in order to address the concerns of its officers and to make restructuring of the FBR more inclusive, constituted consultative committees and directed the chief commissioners to frame their recommendations by co-opting officers from BS-20, 19, 18 and 17, and officials of BS-16 and below.
The terms of reference (ToRs) for consultative committees included future status of tax authority, under the federal government as an attached department (as presently), under the federal government as a semi-autonomous body, completely autonomous, HR issues such as recruitment, retention, capacity, remuneration, etc, financial autonomy and organizational structure qualifications/growth/ career path), and work processes.
Furthermore, it stated that the FBR chairman desired that the heads of these committees should ensure engaging officials falling in BS-16 and below and other cadres, falling under their jurisdictions to obtain their input and incorporate in the recommendations to be drafted by these committees, which would be submitted before November 18, 2019.
Senior tax officials lauded efforts of the FBR, requesting to initiate deliberation in a consultative manner and ensure implementation of recommendations, which would be mutually finalized by the committees and the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) officers.
Moreover, they said that the IRS officers were in support of meaningful and transparent reforms aimed at creating a viable automated and effective revenue organization, and added that this proposed reforms must grant financial autonomy.
The prime minister's letter of October 3, 2019 contains following major reforms in the FBR and timelines: Establishment of Pakistan Revenue Authority (timeline June 30, 2020); Re-organization and re-articulation of FBR Headquarters (November 30, 2019); administrative and functional restructuring of LTUs/RTOs (December 31, 2019); collection of sales tax on services by the FBR (October 30, 2019); enhancement of collection charges of FBR for infrastructure development, automation and HRD (timeline June 30, 2020); nationwide tax assessment and documentation drive (timeline November 30), nation-wise survey of immovable properties (October 31), proposal for development of Alternate Border Economy (timeline October 31, 2019), and process for automation of the FBR (timeline November 30, 2019). The said reform initiatives have not been implemented and put on hold by the FBR.
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