Given the uncertain, tense, and conflict ridden political climate that remains in the country, it does not come as much of a surprise that the last date for the income tax returns was extended to the 20th of October, 2007.
But then this last date for filing income tax returns has been extended at the last minute on the last day, after closing hours, on several occasions in the past. That is the way it has been, and for no reasons that one can comprehend, or accept.
For those who file these returns regularly (as against tax dodgers and evaders who are a class unto themselves) it is easy to recollect the years when they have had to rush through with the filing of returns, and the filling of complicated forms in unreasonably short time, and as one says there come to mind those large, even extravagant print media advertisements, and electronic media advertising, trying to motivate people to file their returns.
That is, to come on to the record of the Income Tax Department (read Federal Bureau of Revenue now). Needless to say, the tax payers base, in particular of the salaried income group, is regarded as small as against what it should be.
The disappointing aspect of the income tax returns for 2007-2008 is that the forms came late, which is something that has happened in the past as well. Several times, really. Tax payers have been unable to comprehend the fact, that year after year, these forms come late.
There is one full year to work on these forms and ensure that the tax payers have at least a month's time to fill them, commented one irritated tax payer who has been faithfully filing returns for a life time. He believes in filing these returns and interestingly does not grudge the rate of income tax. He takes a philosophic view, which combined with his sense of empathy makes his vision appear rather altruistic.
Which, of course, is an ironic and even icy contrast to those who try and dodge taxes, or pay them unhappily. It reminds one of the efforts that affluent people make to try and pay the minimum possible tax, (income category or whatever else) the argument against paying tax (whatever category) needs to be mentioned here, even though it is so familiar.
Typically it goes like this: what has the government done for us that we should pay these taxes? And keep on doing so? Why should I be earning more to pay more taxes, argue others - especially in the business world?
The debate about taxes, is well known. This year tax payers were particularly critical (said an Aaj TV report on 1st October from Lahore) that the income tax returns form was changed thrice.
This does reflect mismanagement besides showing that deadline sanctity has not been kept in mind by the government itself, which again is easy to understand given the perception that delays characterise almost all government planning and execution. And when a project is completed, its quality will be viewed as suspect, as experience continues to show.
One is inclined to agree with the point that taxpayers have made that the Federal Bureau of Revenue, which emphasises transparency vis-a-vis taxpayers, would do well, in its own interest, to make public the reasons behind the delays that took place this year within its set-up and the forms were released late, and changed thrice.
An official spokesman of the FBR in Islamabad said on Sunday (30th September) which was the last day, after closing hours, that the "taxpayers, tax bar associations, chambers and various tax bodies had made representations for extension of the date for the filing of returns in view of Ramazan and some delays in distributing revised returns."
It would have been more considerate and realistic if the FBR had shown this appreciation of the Ramazan factor and that of revised forms earlier, rather than putting taxpayers to deadline pressure and inconvenience. There is a desperate need for public dealing departments in this country to be reasonable, fair, just.
I do not wish to make detailed references to the larger context of public perception that government departments have still a long way to go before they realise how the public suffers. And probably not just realise, but also accept, and do something about it. A huge, drastic, overhaul in attitude and output remains pending.
I am also conscious of the general observation that was made recently by the head of a large organisation that even the private sector's attitude to work and efficiency remains a sustained impediment to productivity and performance. I cannot resist the temptation of mentioning that even after the changes that the PTCL has been making, the landline telephones still remain something to be unsure of, and complain. Here too, the mileage has been small.
But returning to the income tax theme, I was disappointed to see in that TV report images of way in which thousands of taxpayers' forms were being pushed into almirahs that were already stuffed with previous files. The staff also appeared stereotyped, weather beaten. I would have preferred to see images of the e-filing that the FBR keeps underlining frequently.
The e-filing of tax returns is something that makes a friend of mine very uncomfortable, given the missing file ambience that most governance in this country is about.
I am distracted by the theme of lost files, misplaced files, stolen files, leaked out files, poorly maintained files, shabbily kept files, disgracefully stored files, and so on. And the concept of e-filing pursued by untrained, unwilling human resource personnel, and inadequate resources too, is another reality check.
However, on this point let me end with the relief that has come with the date being extended, even though I heard one taxpayer, bespectacled Naqi remark that: "this is what happens each year. Doesn't it"?
Even the naïve amongst us are not expecting the torment and the suspense that are part of our days and nights today to end with the presidential election on 6th October (Saturday). The central question is where does it take the nation?
And Ramazan 2007 moves into its last ten days which for the faithful is a time for sustained worship, seeking the blessings of the Almighty Allah, night after night, of prayer, seeking the night of Lailatul Qadr. It was on the 27th of Ramazan that Pakistan came into being in August 1947. And now sixty years later, in Ramazan 2007, Pakistan faces yet another crisis - this time raising some new questions, some totally new issues. Indeed, it is time for sincere soul-searching and earnest prayer, and what better time than the holy month of Ramazan - in its last ten days.
Whether or not it is time for us to keep one's fingers crossed, here is this superstition from the Oxford Book of Superstition on the subject of "Crossed Fingers." It goes to 1912 when it was said in Hertforshire "the ill luck supposed to follow a passage beneath the ladder may be averted by crossing the fingers and thumbs." Just a thought that crosses my mind: is there a ladder in our lives, in sight?
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