AJK connects with national tax system

Commissioner says it will close doors of ‘bogus invoices’

ISLAMABAD:

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) tax system was on Thursday connected with the national tax system, as part of government efforts to provide online services and increase tax collection.

AJK Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan inaugurated the digital system of income tax at a ceremony held at the Jammu and Kashmir House here.

“The linkage of the digital tax system is a historical step forward not only towards national unity and cohesion but it would also help increase the tax collection in AJK,” he said.

The AJK tax collection was very encouraging last year, he said and expressed the hope that it would be increased further after the introduction of the new system.

Qadir said: “The digital system will save the time of the people and also provide online information to the taxpayers.”

Briefing the chief secretary about the digital tax system, Income Tax Commissioner Sardar Zafar Mehmood said the system would improve tax collection and “close the door of bogus invoices.”

He said the services of facilitation officers would be available to the Inland Revenue Department to provide guidance to the taxpayers. “The new system will eliminate the physical interaction between tax collectors and taxpayers,” Mehmood added.

The chief secretary appreciated the efforts of Additional Chief Secretary General Dr Syed Asif Hussain, Board of Revenue senior member Fayyaz Ali Abbasi, Services Secretary Ch Liaqat Hussain, and the income tax commissioner. Public Relations Director General Raja Azhar Iqbal was also in attendance.