The newly-appointed Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Shabbar Zaidi Friday conveyed to tax officials that the biggest challenges faced by the tax machinery are achievement of revenue collection targets, broadening of tax base and removing trust deficit between taxpayers and the FBR.
Addressing the officers of FBR soon after taking charge as chairman on Friday, Shabbar Zaidi said that the revenue generation is a real challenge in the present situation of slowdown in economic activities.
"We will work as a team and I need your full support. I am not here to address you but to listen to your suggestions and observations," the FBR Chairman said while addressing the officials (Grade 17 and above) here at the FBR Headquarters.
He hinted to work with the existing team of the FBR Members and did not talk about any change in the existing team of tax managers.
The chairman FBR shared his vision to revamp the tax system and tax machinery and discussed broader problem areas affecting the institution. The chairman stressed on the need for shifting from manual to complete automated system to facilitate the taxpayers.
Zaidi also emphasised the need to document all the economic transactions, which could be great source of revenue generation for the country.
The chairman took the FBR officers into confidence and assured that the issues being confronted by the FBR employees would be addressed under his leadership. He sought the support of all the officers to work as a team for the betterment of the institution and country. He thanked the Prime Minister for reposing trust in him and pledged to bring improvement in the working and performance of FBR as per expectations of the Prime Minister.
About broadening the tax base, he gave example of United Kingdom (UK) where the ratio of taxpayers is very high while on the other hand, the number of taxpayers in India is very less as compared to its population. The UK tax authorities have implemented the electronic system where no potential taxpayer can hide or conceal himself. Therefore, the system can be effectively be used in netting the new taxpayers.
The FBR officers asked questions which were answered by the new chairman in a very candid manner. The chairman hoped to have regular interactions with the FBR officers in future. A tax official asked the chairman to ensure appropriate funds required for expenditure budget. The chairman responded that he would take up the issue with the Ministry of Finance for allocation of necessary expenditure budget for the FBR. Another senior tax official raised the question about the fate of the Pakistan Revenue Authority (PRA) as envisaged by the chairman in the past. The chairman responded that it is an old issue and "we will look into it."
Another official asked the chairman, "You were on other side and now you are on our side, how would you manage this situation? The chairman responded, "We will have to work as a team. The FBR is in the limelight, as at the end of every month, quarter and year, media asks about the revenue collection position and highlights revenue shortfall. We will try our level best to increase revenue mobilisation, which is not possible without the help of the tax machinery."
To a question on improving impression of the FBR, he said that the interaction between the taxpayers and tax officials creates such kind of impressions which would be improved through automation and electronic systems.
The FBR chairman was confident that the field officials must have enough knowledge about the taxpayers falling within their respective jurisdiction like number of potential business units, etc.
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