The Federal Board of Revenue has directed all its DGs and Collectors to organise the "Open Houses" once in a week at their respective offices to interact with the taxpayers. Sources informed Business Recorder here Saturday that the directives in this regard have been issued to all the Collectors of FBR and Director Generals of RTO and LTU throughout the country.
As per directives, these officials would be responsible to hold Open House at their offices every Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in order to interact with the taxpayers directly, sources said. The directions would be implemented with immediate effect and the first open houses would be held on Saturday April 5, 2008, they said.
The FBR officials would not just hear the complaints of the taxpayers regarding the tax matters and problems at open houses but immediate actions would also be taken on the spot, they claimed. According to the sources, the step of organising open houses at different offices of the board has been taken in connection with the ongoing reform programme of FBR aimed to improve the relationship between the tax collectors and taxpayers and to facilitate the latter.
By organising open houses, not just a close and direct relationship could develop between the stakeholders of the taxation system of the country but it would also evolve 'accountability by public' culture, an official maintained. The taxpayers and tax consultants could register their complaints about their difficulties and problems at the open houses besides consulting the concerned tax officials regarding their tax matters, he added.