Delay in executing FTO's directives: FBR asks RTOs, LTUs, customs to take action against officials

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed the entire tax collecting machinery including RTOs, LTUs and customs to take disciplinary action against officials found involved in using dilly-dallying tactics in executing the directives of Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO).
Sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that the decision was taken after observing growing tendency of delayed responses to complaints, which attracts the displeasure of the FTO, resulting in the issuance of show cause notices and reminders. Therefore, the board has directed the field formations by issuing instruction to implement FTO directions within the given time frame.
They said the board has also suggested the filed formations to prefer the representation to the President of Pakistan in case of incongruence with the recommendations of FTO, which should reach in board at least 10 days before the expiry of time limit. To catch tendency of poor comments and delayed responses, all commissioners and chief commissioners have been asked to ensure scrutiny of the case while preparing para-wise comments for FTO, the sources said.
They further said the concerned additional commissioners/additional collectors have now been authorised to endorse the said comments after taking stock of all facts and figures of the case to eliminate flaws in the legal requirements of the case. The sources said the board would sternly deal with the officers involved in the delay of submitting of reports, who would not only face contempt proceedings but disciplinary proceedings as well.
They said the role of the departmental representatives appearing before FTO for pleading of final stance of the department is very important, hence the officers pleading the cases should be well prepared and equipped with the case law decided by the higher appellate courts and forums to ensure the proper presentation of department's view point before FTO.