Over 800 sales tax auditors/senior auditors would go on countrywide strike from Monday (today) against the prolonged delay in their promotions within the new organisational structure of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS).
According to an announcement of the Auditors and Senior Auditors Welfare Association here on Sunday night, the auditors would start strike at all reformed units against the delay in processing of their promotional cases at the level of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as well as Establishment Division. The strike would be followed by protest rallies, demonstrations and presentations at the level of different government departments under the strategy.
The strike will not only hamper audit exercise under the national audit plan, but it would also affect recovery proceedings, adjudication, verification of refund claims and enforcement of other provisions of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
The association opined that the implementation of the Inland Revenue Service operations at reformed units under the Tax Administration Reform Programme (TARP) needs proper appointment of auditors/senior auditors at the Large Taxpayer Units and Regional Tax Offices. On the other hand, situation would become more complicated due to strike of auditors. The FBR is already facing acute shortage of expert audit staff in the field formations and strike would further worse the situation.
It claimed that the grievances regarding their promotion still stands unresolved as the Establishment Division has not approved the summary of their up gradation sent by the Chairman, FBR. These officers are waiting for their due promotion for the last 14 years. The concerned authorities have failed to frame rules on their service structure to cover areas like promotions in view of their experience and educational background, they added.
Despite the fact that the association welcomed the new IRS system, delay in action on the summary will create hurdle in implementation of the newly formed IRS. The association is of the view that the FBR is only pursuing promotions of income tax inspector and income tax officers. This will have negative impact on the seniority and working relations of both working groups of the IRS. The association has raised these issues at all level of FBR, but no action has been taken.
The association demanded immediate promotion of all auditors (BS-14 to 16) & senior auditors (BS-16 to 17) who have served more than 5 years and promotion of those who have served more than 10 years along with notification for their career path/promotion criterion.
The association also appealed to Minister of Finance and Prime Minister to intervene and issue directions to FBR and Establishment for speedy promotion of auditors.