The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has issued guidelines to its legal advisor for framing the draft of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) law. Official sources told Business Recorder that the Board has identified seven major areas on which the Legal Advisor would submit report, including legal backing for smooth implementation of the plan.
The first area relates to the financial and operational autonomy of the Board's officials. Second, level of decision making for tax officials, who would operate under the proposed FBR. Third, organisational structure of the FBR.
Fourth, role of members from private sector in the FBR. Fifth, formulation of committees under the new law.
Sixth, administrative powers to deal with Human Resource related issues. Seventh, legal language of the new law, as it should not be ambiguous. However, the law is likely to be flexible to deal with different administrative issues.
Sources said that the Legal Advisor has submitted a comparison of CBR's organisational structure with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). He will also submit the working of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) for analysis purposes. The CBR has already rejected the idea of 'Advisory Board' under the proposed 'FBR' law.
'Board-in-Council' would remain the decision-making body under the 'FBR'.