Undue harassment by tax officials: FTO vows to help resolve issues raised by traders

ISLAMABAD: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jah Thursday assured business community that the FTO will take immediate cognizance of complaints regarding undue harassment of traders transporting legally acquired/ tax paid goods by the tax officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

During the question-answer session after inauguration of the newly established Regional FTO office in Hyderabad by the FTO, the FTO also responded several questions raised by members of business community as well as tax bar. He assured them of wholehearted support of FTO in addressing and resolving their genuine complaints within minimum possible time. He promised that FTO will take immediate cognizance of complaints regarding undue harassment of traders transporting legally acquired/ tax paid goods by the tax officials.

He urged the taxpayers to use the facility of lodging complaints under section 33 of FTO Ordinance for immediate redressal of their grievances which bypasses the longer route of lodging written formal complaints. The FTO also spoke to the media and apprised them of the steps being taken by the FTO office for resolution of the issues faced by the aggrieved complainants.

FTO, Dr. Asif Mahmood was accompanied by the FTO Advisors based in Karachi. The officers of IRS and Customs posted in Hyderabad were also present on the occasion. The regional FTO office in Hyderabad has been set up on demand of the taxpayers of the region in order to resolve their grievances against maladministration by the tax officials.

Subsequently, the FTO addressed a well-attended gathering of members/representatives of trade bodies including local tax bars in the office of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Hyderabad. He assured the business community that FTO office will redouble its efforts to resolve the issues faced by the taxpayers at their doorstep and creation of a new regional office was a manifestation of this resolve.

FTO highlighted the extraordinary performance of FTO office during the last year which witnessed the number of complaints registered and resolved jumped up to as many as six thousands in number. He also informed the audience that the President of Pakistan lauded the efforts of FTO in promptly redressing the grievances of the taxpayers and very few representations filed against the orders of FTO were accepted by the President during the last year showing the quality of orders issued by the FTO. Chief Commissioner RTO Hyderabad,

Collector MCC Hyderabad and Vice President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce Industry in their remarks welcomed the setting up of new regional FTO office in Hyderabad which will certainly help redress the grievances of the complainants at the local level and save their precious time. The Director, Customs Intelligence and Investigation customs Hyderabad was also present on the occasion.

The session concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023