The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Friday agreed to provide access of soft data of taxpayers to the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) based on the selected list/record of information available. Sources told Business Recorder that the decision has been taken in the recent meeting of the FBR with the AGP office on the issue of provision of access to soft data of FBR to the audit.
According to sources, it was already decided that the basic soft data will be provided to the AGP including basic information like name of taxpayer, address, NTN/STRN, nature of business, tax paid and other information. On the basis of this information, AGP will seek details of data of selected taxpayers picked by the agency. Therefore, selected information would be provided based on data sought by the AGP. This was the basic focus of decisions taken between the two organisations in 2013, sources added.
However, FBR has categorically conveyed to the AGP that the FBR has provided limited access to the taxpayers'' soft data for reasons of legal secrecy, sanctity and protection of data. Therefore, how complete soft record of taxpayers could be provided to the external auditors, sources said. The subject meeting was held at FBR Conference Room, in pursuance of the directions of the PAC Sub-Committee-III in its earlier meeting held on August 17, 2015, regarding amicably resolving the issue of provision of soft data to Audit.
Member (Accounting) Seema Majid explained that the objective of the meeting was to pursue the direction of PAC Sub-Committee with regard to subject issue, and facilitate Audit in provision of required data. Deputy Audit General of Pakistan, Shagufta Khanum thanked FBR for convening the meeting to resolve the issue. Deputy Accountant General Shagufta Khanum stated that the minutes dated 2nd October, 2013 regarding provision of data to audit were not being followed in letter and spirit. Despite instructions issued from FBR dated 13 August, 2015 in pursuance of a meeting between Additional Auditor General Javaid Jehangir, Deputy Auditor General, Shagufta Khanum Deputy Auditor General and Member (Accounting) Seema Majid, even the basic data has not been provided, on the basis of which other relevant documents would be requisitioned. In response to this, Member (IT) committed that requisition of required data may be sent to her and she is ready to provide the relevant data as per scope of the minutes of the meeting on 02.10.2013.
The FBR Member (Accounting) reiterated the resolve to facilitate, audit with regard to provision of data, remaining strictly within the ambit and scope of the minutes, which were extensively deliberated upon by all the members of the Board and officers of the AGP and duly signed by both the parties. She regretted the misstatement of Director General (North) in his letter to the Chairman in which he stated that Member (Accounting) had agreed to provide access to data beyond the scope already settled in earlier meeting dated 02-10.2013 fields other than those mentioned in the minutes.
During the meeting, DG (North) specifically asked for complete access to the soft data which according to him is a global practice. However, FBR Member (IT) categorically responded that this was not possible due to technical and legal reasons. She dilated upon the functioning of IT Wing FBR and explained that IT Wing is maintaining soft data of all taxpayers which is transactional based only. In order to resolve the subject issue she agreed that the list/record of soft data can be provided if the same requisitioned by Director General Audit-IR (North) in light of mechanism already agreed upon during the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd October, 2013.
The subject issue was discussed in detail. Member (Accounting) Seema Majid and Member (IT) Raana Ahmed explained the FBR''s point of view. The FBR officers further informed the AGP participants that even FBR field formations, for reasons of legal secrecy, sanctity and protection of data, have been provided with limited access to the taxpayers'' soft data.
It has been decided that the FBR will fully facilitate and provide access to soft data within the scope already agreed in the minutes of the meeting held on 2nd October, 2013. Secondly, it was clearly explained that FBR is bound by the mentioned minutes and will co-operates within the scope defined in statutes and already settled with the office of AGP, as discussed. The AGP in his letter to the Chairman, FBR clearly stated that "the purpose of writing letter to your department was not to re-open the settled issues but to find and efficient way forward for implementation of the decision taken in the said meeting," it added.
Other issues pointed out by the AGP representatives included withdrawal of deputation allowances of the AGP officers/officials posted in federal treasuries/field formations/FBR HQs. Secondly, the AGP field formations punching assistance to FBR in respect of income/sales tax challans manually in SAP and lack of access to soft data/interface. Member (Accounting) FBR advised the AGP officers to take up the matter at appropriate forum. Member (Accounting) assured the Deputy Auditor General of Pakistan and DG-IR (North) that FBR that its field formations will provide maximum co-operation, in rendering access to data as per agreed SOP, sources added.
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