The Board-in-Council (BIC) of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday taking a major administrative decision empowered the Collectors of Customs and Chief Commissioners to initiate disciplinary proceedings against corrupt customs and Inland Revenue officers up to Grade 16 without prior approval of FBR. Sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that the Board-in-Council chaired by FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa has also approved the Audit Policy 2014 for Tax Year 2013/Tax Period 2013.
According to sources, Board-in-Council approved enhancement in the administrative powers to Collectors of Customs and Chief Commissioners after a detailed discussion on the actions to be taken against the corrupt tax officers in the field formations. Collectors of Customs and Chief Commissioners would be empowered to take administrative action against all designations up to Grade16. Collectors of Customs can now take disciplinary action against the customs officers up to Superintendents of Customs. Similarly, Chief Commissioners would have the authority to take action against the officers of IR up to Grade-16.
Explaining the impact of the decision, sources said that the Collectors of Customs and Chief Commissioners would have the legal authority to suspend any corrupt officer, conduct inquiry and even impose major penalty of dismissal from services under E&D Rules 1973, if necessary. Now, the heads of the field formations can timely complete disciplinary proceedings against the corrupt tax officers up to grade16.
The Board-in-Council approved procedure for carrying out computerised random balloting for selection of audit cases for Tax Year 2013. The FBR Member (Taxpayers Audit) gave a presentation on the "Audit Policy 2014 for Tax Year 2013/Tax Period 2013". The Board-in-Council also approved renaming of the post of Chief Co-ordinator of Data Processing Centre as Director General and renaming of post to director general (broadening of tax base).