Some FBR, PRAL officials issue fake NTNs

Ombudsman seeks detailed reply from FBR on the accusation

ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to help non-filers of tax returns in the purchase of cars and immoveable property, some officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) are engaged in providing fake documents to the non-filers in order to show them as filers of tax returns, it has been learnt.

In this regard, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has issued orders for investigation to trace out the elements issuing fake national tax number (NTN) certificates. He also directed that fool-proof standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be developed with the help of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime wing to stop the use of fake documents at PRAL.

The FTO told the FBR to submit a detailed response regarding the accusation of wrongful use of the Active Taxpayers List. Meanwhile, the Revenue Division secretary and members of the FBR information technology wing have received notices from the tax ombudsman, who directed them to appear in a hearing on the fake NTN case scheduled for January 22.



When contacted, the FBR spokesperson and Inland Revenue Policy member Hamid Ateeq Sarwar said an FBR representative would appear before the FTO on January 22 to give a comprehensive reply.

He said it was initially suggested to introduce biometric verification for the NTN registration of a taxpayer, but for the ease of doing business and on the suggestion of the business community, the process was made easier. NTN numbers can be issued through mobile phones, computerised CNIC and email. Sarwar said he was not aware of the details of the case, however, he would investigate and the ombudsman should probe the matter as well.

He was of the view that if a few cases had surfaced, it did not mean that the whole system was corrupt.

According to the documents available with The Express Tribune, the ombudsman has expressed annoyance over the non-serious attitude of PRAL and the FBR in a sensitive and important case pertaining to the misuse of the Active Taxpayers List. None of the officials has given any comments or appeared before the FTO in order to pursue the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2019.

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