The transfers and postings of customs, sales tax and income tax officials were made without prior approval of the concerned Members of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which is, tax experts say, seems to be violation of the Tax Administration Reform Project (TARP).
Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the FBR Members had taken up the issue with the tax authorities in the last Board-in-council meeting chaired by former FBR Chairman Sohail Ahmed. During the meeting, administrative matters pertaining to field formations were thoroughly discussed.
The FBR Member (Customs) apprised the Board that the postings/transfers of the customs officials (up to BS-16) were made without the list provided by him and the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the officials were also finalised without any input of the line members.
Other line members also supported him and expressed similar concerns about the transfers and postings of the tax officials. After detailed discussion, Board-in-Council decided that as FBR Member (Administration) was on leave on the day of meeting, the decision on the issue should have been deferred till the next meeting of the Board when Member (Administration may be present for his point of view on the subject). Meanwhile, tax authorities have directed that all postings/transfers be made with the prior consultation of the respective line members. The FBR has further directed that the action would be taken by Member (Customs and Member (Admn).
The new FBR Chairman has to look into the matter of transfers and postings being made without prior approval of the concerned Member, which is harming the working of reformed units of the FBR. The sole discretion of the Administration Wing to transfer tax officials without consulting concerned FBR members seemed to be a serious violation of the Tax Administration Reform Project (TARP) of the FBR, tax experts said.