Computer number: sales tax registration staff demanding bribe

The staff of Collectorate of Sales Tax and Central Excise, Rawalpindi, is demanding Rs 1000 as bribe for issuance of computer numbers necessary for obtaining new sales tax registration under Centralised Registration Office (CRO), Central Board of Revenue (CBR).
It seems that efforts of tax managers with all their thrust to revamp the structure and make the collectorates more taxpayer-friendly are bearing no fruit.
The, staff which should play the role of a facilitator in broadening the tax base, is engaged in harassing fresh applicants through various means.
Fresh applicants told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the staff members entrusted with the job of issuing computer numbers at the collectorate are not prepared to give these numbers 'free of cost' to fresh applicants.
Usually, fresh applicants dispatch the documents through courier service to the Collectorate. However, they are forced to pay this amount for obtaining computer number, necessary for getting the new registration.
These applicants have demanded action against the dealing staff demanding bribes from the persons who intend to get registered and it is apprehended that it would affect the government drive to expand sales tax registration during fiscal year 2004-05.
The new applicants have also asked the tax authorities to minimise the interaction between the Collectorate staff and fresh applicants so that there should be minimum chances of mal-administration.
According to CBR, fresh applicants should submit the form with the local registration office and obtain computer number, which can be used for reference or queries raised by the Board. However, the applicants should not again contact the local registration office at any cost as all queries would be responded by the Board.
The taxpayers should only give computer number to the concerned tax officials in the Board, who would promptly provide an updated position of the registration process.
Officials, particularly informed taxpayers in Karachi and other cities, are not required to come to Islamabad for inquiring about the status of registration application.
The CBR will dispatch the sales tax registration to the applicant through courier services. It would not only verify the given address, but would also ensure that the registration number reaches the taxpayer.