KARACHI: Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Tariq Mustafa has said that it was not the policy of FBR to impose more burdens on taxpayers.
We will introduce a new and efficient system replacing IRIS in which all kinds of taxes can be easily paid in one place, he said this during a meeting with officials and members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
Tariq Mustafa said that resolving the issues raised by the KATI would not only improve the regional tax office but also benefit the FBR. He said that after 2013, tax refund payments were halted. He said under the current system, there is no problem of refunds. Refunds are now paid immediately through a modern automated system.
He said the KATI members can contact him for any complaint regarding the FBR. “My doors are open to all members.”
Earlier, KATI President Salman Aslam welcomed the Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue and said that the industrialists were concerned over the reports of freezing the accounts of defaulters. He said that to increase further revenues, tax net needs to be widened, adding that harassment of taxpayers would not increase revenue.
President KATI said that new policies should be formulated to facilitate the tax system so that the industrialists consider paying taxes without any fear as their national duty.
KITE CEO Zubair Chhaya said: We have been made withholding agent without any compensation, and instead of encouragement, we have been issued monitoring notices from 2014 to date. “The government should encourage withholding agents.”
He said that in terms of filers and non-filers, non-filers make their lives easier by paying extra tax once while filers go through various notices and audits despite paying taxes.
A policy should be formulated in consultation with the stakeholders to widen the scope of taxation, he said, adding facilities should be provided to the industrialists of Karachi so that the industries can be promoted and the national revenue can be further increased.
On the occasion, Chairman Tax Liaison Committee Masood Naqi said that a focal person should be appointed to facilitate the industrialists of Korangi who could provide immediate assistance to the members of KATI.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021