FTO to launch portal for taxpayer facilitation

Will also introduce mobile app to address grievances on priority

LAHORE:

The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) office will introduce a new system to facilitate taxpayers and address their grievances on priority, revealed FTO Asif Mahmood Jah.

Speaking at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) on Monday, the ombudsman said that his office would launch a mobile application and a portal to facilitate the taxpayers.

Expressing concern over complaints of stopping consignments, he said that a directive would be issued soon to stop such practice. He announced that FTO desks would be established at all airports to resolve customs-related complaints.

Terming taxpayers as the backbone of national economy, the ombudsman said that he would work as their advocate and requested the taxpayers to submit recommendations. “I will try my best to implement them,” he remarked.

Pak Suzuki Motor received 17% sales tax at the time of booking cars, which was later reduced to 12% at the time of delivery after FTO’s intervention, he pointed out, adding that he ordered a refund of the extra sales tax as well.

He said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman had also been directed to ensure the implementation of the order.

Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Syed Mahmood Hussain Jafari revealed that a total of Rs40 billion refunds were released in Faisalabad last year on the FTO directives.

On the occasion, FCCI President Atif Munir Sheikh lamented that instead of enhancing the tax net, the total number of taxpayers had gone down. “As a result, an additional burden is being put on the existing taxpayers,” he said.

He was of the view that Faisalabad was emerging as a new regional hub of industry and trade. “We are expecting maximum local and foreign investment in M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estates,” he said, adding that the government was also trying to facilitate investors through a one-window operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2021.

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