The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has requested the Establishment Division to immediately call a meeting of the ''anomaly committee'' to resolve the issues relating to creation of new occupational group--Inland Revenue Services (IRS). Sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the government has constituted this committee to overcome the difficulties and interpretation of the methodology for creation of the IRS.
The committee comprising Additional Secretary-II, Establishment Division, Chairman FBR and Additional Secretary, Law and Justice Division whose interpretation shall be final, subject to approval of Establishment Division. The Anomaly Committee and all others concerned shall ensure that the decisions contained in this official memorandum do not create any administrative complications.
The meeting of anomaly committee would take up the upgradation of 10 Grade 20 posts to Grade 21 under the Inland Revenue Services. The working paper of the FBR has recommended 7 promotions of the officials of the income tax group whereas only three promotions from Grade 20 to 21 have been given to the customs and excise groups.
Some of the tax officials were of the view that it is unjustified to give only three posts of Grade 21 to the customs and excise group keeping in view the implementation of the value-added tax (VAT). The government requires ample workforce to deal with VAT-related issues, but out of 10 officials, only three promotions from Grade 20 to 21 have been given to the customs and excise group.
When this scribe asked the relevant officials to explain this discrepancy, they said that the ratio of 7-3 for recommendations of promotions of income tax and customs officials was not a discrepancy. These posts have been created under the Inland Revenue Service. Out of total 10 cases, 7 cases are related to the upgradation of posts from Grade 20-21. The remaining three posts of Grade 21 have been announced following creation of three new Regional Tax Offices. There is no deliberate attempt to give more promotions to the income tax officials as compared to the officials of customs and excise group.
Sources said that the Establishment Division has yet to formally issue a notification for the creation of the Inland Revenue Services. Therefore, the FBR is legally bound to separately send summaries of income tax group and customs and excise groups to the Establishment Division. Till formal notification of the Establishment Division, the combined summary for promotions of officials of both the groups cannot be sent under the IRS.
Sources said that once the Establishment Division would issue the formal notification for the creation of Inland Revenue Services, the lists of officials, who opted for the IRS would also be notified for both the income tax and customs and excise groups. The Establishment Division would issue the formal lists for both groups after formal composition of the IRS.
The upcoming meeting of the anomaly committee of the Establishment Division would deal with issues like case of the Cost Accountants of Sales Tax Department in IRS not covered in the official memorandum (OM) dated 12-9-2009; case of other employees, if any, not covered under OM dated 12-9-2009; determination of cadre strength by creation/ transfer of posts to IRS; consideration of options exercise by Customs & Excise Income Tax Groups for absorption in IRS and absorption of officers of Customs & Excise and Income Tax Group having exercised option for absorption in IRS and transfer of officers of Pakistan Customs Service to IRS under Section 10 of Civil Servants Act, 1973 to meet the gap, if any.
The initial composition of Inland Revenue Service BS-17 would also be discussed in the meeting of the anomaly committee. The Establishment Division is required to urgently convene the meetings of the committee to consider proposals contained in this working paper, the FBR added.
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