Covid-19 outbreak: Taxmen asked to use only email, fax for communication

In view of the prevailing coronavirus outbreak, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed field formations to use only email and fax as means of communication with the tax authorities.

According to the FBR's communication to the field formations here on Tuesday, the FBR is taking necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus.

For this reason, the FBR is recommending limiting paper-based correspondence to a minimum by utilising email and fax as means of communication.

The FBR has also shared the list of email and fax numbers available for correspondence with the field formations.

On Tuesday, the FBR has also released the latest information relating to the issuance of refunds through the FASTER (Fully Automated Sales Tax E-Refund System).

As per record, since July 2019, a total of refunds amounting to Rs64.5 billion were claimed through FASTER System.

Out of it, refund cases of rupees 57 billion were processed.

Out of these processed cases, refund payment of rupees 51.5 billion have been made to the exporters and businessmen so far.

The remaining unpaid refund cases have been withheld due to incomplete date provision by the exporters and businessmen.

The FBR has devised a centralised system of online payment of sales tax, FED and income tax refunds directly in the bank account of the taxpayers.

For this purpose, the FBR has requested the taxpayers to update their IRIS profile.

In the given bank account details area in the system, the IBAN detail row is added wherein taxpayers are required to add their complete bank's IBAN number of same bank account whose details are already available in IRIS profile to receive sales tax, FED and income tax refund cheques.

The FBR has advised the taxpayers to do the needful as soon as possible to avail electronic transfer facility, the FBR added.