FBR officers can now arrest tax evaders

Conducting raids on manufacturing units, stores and offices allowed.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has given officers of its Directorate of Internal Audit Inland Revenue the authority to arrest any taxpayer, industrialist, manufacturer or trader if found guilty of tax evasion.

The officers will now also have the authority to conduct raids on manufacturing units, stores and offices belonging to individuals who evade taxes. These changes were contained in notifications issued by the FBR. The notifications also gave officers the power to arrest individuals involved in the manufacture of fake cigarettes and to search the manufacturing premises.

The officers can register accusations against those suspected of tax evasion and present them in court.

The officers will also have the authority to search the accused individual’s premises for records and information for audit purposes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2010.