The Federal Board of Revenue has moved a summary to Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on creation of 134 senior positions (Grade-19 to 22) in Inland Revenue Service. The summary also includes five posts of BS-22 to ensure smooth implementation of Sales Tax Risk Management System and supervision of broadening the tax base along with documentation of economy.
Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that FBR Chairman Ali Arshad Hakim has taken the initiative for creating 134 new positions in tax machinery, supported by Ministry of Finance. Out of 134 proposed positions in the IRS, five have been proposed in Grade-22; four in Grade-21; 80 in Grade-20 and 45 positions in Grade-19. Senior Member Inland Revenue Tax Policy Asrar Raouf has played a key role in pursuing the proposal at the policy level to get 134 senior slots in FBR.
Prime Minister had approved in principle the creation of new posts for the FBR which is required for implementation of Sales Tax Risk Management System and expanding the tax base. The senior level positions are also required at the FBR's level to ensure proper monitoring of the documentation drive by the Board. The Risk Management System and documentation would generate additional revenue to the tune of billions.
Sources said that as a corollary to the above and to streamline the career progression of the Tax Collectors in IRS and to provide for adequate workforce to cater to the enhanced functions of the services, the FBR has proposed new vacancies. The rational and justification of the proposed seats has already been provided to the Finance and Establishment Divisions by Inland Revenue Service. The proposal for creation of new posts in various tiers of hierarchy of Inland Revenue Service is logical outcome of the interaction and correspondence with both Finance and Establishment Divisions.
Sources said that Sales Tax Risk Management System has been finalised after conducting detailed analysis of the present input adjustment and sales tax refund systems, its pitfalls & leakages and inability to block illegal claims. At present, the effective sales tax rate was only 3.9% as a consequence of these inabilities. This effective sales tax rate would be increased with the help of Risk Management System. The new will have in-built features to lock-in illegal claims; with ability to eliminate inherent risks of the present system.
Sources said that to run the Sales Tax Risk Management System successfully, feedback from taxpayers was important. Tax officers would need capacity building to make the new system viable. Moreover, it was proposed to bring in good officers, even from outside, to run the system. It was further proposed that for the time being the refund system should be centralised rather than its stand-alone operations at regional level.
The capacity building of tax officers should be a continuous activity during implementation of new system. The FBR has directed Member Human Resource Management (HRM) and Member Strategic Planning and Statistics (SPS&R) to immediately prepare training modules/materials regarding the proposed new system. The role of tax officer cannot be eliminated as he has to scrutinise and confront the taxpayer. Therefore, while the proposed new system will be implemented at RTO level, its monitoring would be done at headquarter level. Thirdly, the Board would ensure strict enforcement through a regular reporting and monitoring mechanism.
Board-in-Council of the FBR has approved the proposed new system for immediate implementation. Asrar Raouf, Senior Member (IR-Policy) will initially identify at least 10 officers, based at Headquarter and at field offices to act as monitors of the system during the first phase. The FBR will also ensure strict enforcement of the system. The Enforcement reports from each RTO and Monitoring team(s) will be presented to the next Board-in-Council meeting. The FBR has directed the Member (HRM) to immediately revisit format of performance evaluation reports (PER) and devise it afresh to quantify performance of officers on the basis about enforcing the new system.
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