LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jan has directed the tax authorities to de-attach the bank account being operated by a taxpayer to meet personal expenses and family needs.

It may be noted a taxpayer had approached the FTO, agitating against attachment of bank account by the tax department being operated by him for personal expenses and family needs.

The department had attached the bank account after creating a demand of Rs.649,823,513 on the ground that the assessment made by the taxpayer was erroneous and prejudicial to the interest of revenue.

However, the complainant maintained in his complaint that the notice issued U/S 140 of the ITO, 2001, was not based on facts as he was not a defaulter.

Accordingly, the FTO referred the complaint to secretary revenue division for comments which submitted comments that the recovery proceedings U/S 140 of the ITO, 2001, were initiated to recover the outstanding demand after an application for condoning the delay was declined by the Commissioner Inland Revenue.

Sources said the background of the case is that the complainant had been engaged in the construction services business since long.

He succeeded in acquiring Gadani Fish Harbour, Mini Port from Balochistan Coastal Development Authority on lease for 30 years in the year 2013 and was allotted 74 acres to develop, operate and maintain the Gadani Fish Harbour for the purpose of export of seafood stock in the international market.

However, later on the Balochistan government informed that the land was still the property of Pakistan Tourism Development

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023