FBR chief for speedy resolution of issues

Meets Sarhad Chamber delegation to discuss hurdles facing traders

PESHAWAR:

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Asim Ahmad has issued immediate instructions to officials for resolution of issues facing businessmen.

During a meeting with Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Sherbaz Bilour on Saturday, the chairman was briefed on matters pertaining to monitoring of notices sent to industries and restaurants by the FBR. Speedy disposal and relief from cases pending at the legal forums also came under discussion.

The SCCI president appreciated the FBR for giving assurance to timely resolve issues of small traders and provision of relief. He also lauded the initiatives taken by authority under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for ease of doing business in the country, particularly referring to an automated environment for issuance of refunds directly into a taxpayer’s account.

Both sides also discussed fixed evaluation of raw materials, issuance of pending refunds cases, review of Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee mechanism (ADRC), integration of various business sectors in tier I and lack of SOPs regarding tax facilitation for women entrepreneurs in chambers of commerce and industry.

Ahmad, during the meeting, directed the formation of a committee consisting of members from the Sarhad chamber and customs, to resolve valuation issue at Torkham amicably and said that a notification will very soon be issued in this regard.

Participants of the meeting apprised the FBR chairman regarding issues facing the traders and gave concrete proposals for their amicable redressal. They emphasised speedily clearing of refund cases, decision of pending cases in legal forums, along with inclusion of small traders in tier I and giving them relief.

The FBR chairman appreciated the feedback and issued on the spot instructions to both customs and Inland Revenue officers to review the standard operating procedures and administratively resolve the issues immediately. Ahmad also agreed with proposals of the SCCI delegation and issued necessary instructions to officials concerned for immediate resolution of issues and assured that income and sale tax refunds would be cleared on a fast-track basis.

Similarly, the FBR chairman assured that after a decision in favour of taxpayers, the verdict would not be challenged in any higher courts. A notification would be issued in this regard very shortly, he promised. During the meeting, the issue of Point of Sale (PoS) also came under discussion and it was decided that a meeting would be arranged with the Retail Director General (DG) to find a solution, which could be acceptable. The FBR chairman directed the appointment of a female at facilitation desk in Regional Tax Office (RTO) to facilitate women entrepreneurs.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2021.

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