Lahore LTU to extend one-window services

The second Large Tax Payer Unit (LTU) which started functioning from 1st September 2001 in Lahore has been extending one window quality services and facilities to tax payers falling within its jurisdiction.
"The basic philosophy to establish LTU is to assist tax payers and provide them better and improved facilities under one roof," said Commissioner LTU Lahore Afzal Naubahar Kayani while talking to Business Recorder.
"I believe that by extending maximum possible facilities and assistance to our tax payers we can bring about much improvement in revenue collection besides improving relations between tax payers and tax collectors," he viewed.
He further said, "so far we made soft opening of the LTU and income tax wing of the unit has stared functioning and dealing with the income tax cases." Its full-fledged opening was expected in December 2004-January 2005 when the under construction office was completed, he added.
About the organisational set-up and functioning of the LTU, he said it would deal with income tax, sales tax, central excise and customs cases at one place headed by a Director General, equal to the rank of Regional Commissioner of Income Tax.
CBR has appointed Mahmood Alam, an officer of grade 21, as Director General of the LTU while appointments of officials to deal with sales tax, central excise and customs and income tax cases have also been made.
As many as 201 top companies have been transferred to LTU and the process of receiving income tax returns from them has started. Out of these 201 top tax payers, 110 were required to file their income tax returns in September this year.
According to him, with the passage of time the number of cases would increase in the LTU. Initially, the Karachi LTU had 298 companies while now the number had increased to 600.
"We have conveyed to the tax payers about transfer of their cases to the LTU and queries received from them are being responded accordingly," Kayani said.
They have also been requested to let this LTU officials know if any application/approval/exemption certificate/refund or any other matter was pending with the former circle/zone for a quicker decision and settlement, he added.
He claimed that all the applications received for obtaining exemption certificate have been disposed off.