The Federal Board of Revenue Act 2007 will come into full operation from the middle of next month, Business Recorder learnt here on Tuesday. Sources said that though the FBR Act has come on the Statutes Book, its operation has been stalled pending Gazette notification, which is likely to be issued on September 15, 2007.
The FBR Act replaces CBR Act 1924 to give greater financial and administrative powers and autonomy to FBR board to upgrade and modernise the tax collection system and evolve a mechanism to efficiently respond to government and public needs.
Sources said that under the new arrangement, internal posting and uniform service and employees' foundations rules are being framed, and powers of the FBR Members are being redistributed to define their jurisdictions, They said that FBR has remarkably reduced the time and money consuming litigation on expeditious basis, such:
(a) In 2 years time, five commissioners and six collectors (appeals) working under Member, Legal, decided 80,000 appeals and only current 3000 appeals are pending;
(b) Disposal of adjudication achieved at 51,000 cases during the period, and only 800 current cases are pending with the Collectorates.
(c) In the Supreme Court, out of 1950 CBR cases, about 1600 cases were decided during the past two years, and in the High Courts, Tax Benches decided 3000 out of 5000 cases.
(d) Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism is also working successfully due to the enabling environment by the FBR.