FBR demands court order compliance

Following the suspension of its chairman's salary on court order, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued instructions to its field formations and subordinate organizations, directing strict adherence to all court orders and directives without delay.

According to official documents, the FBR’s legal wing has dispatched a letter to heads of all Large Taxpayer Offices (LTOs),

Regional Tax Offices (RTOs), Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs), and other field formations nationwide, expressing concern over delays in implementing court orders.

The letter underscores that any future delays in implementing superior court directives will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Furthermore, chief commissioners and relevant officers of field formations and related offices will be held directly responsible for any failure to timely submit responses and para-wise comments in cases concerning sub judice tax matters in superior courts.

The FBR will take disciplinary action against such officers for misconduct and negligence.

These instructions come in the wake of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordering the freezing of FBR Chairman Malik Amjad Zubair Tiwana's salary due to repeated failure to submit responses in a tax matter.

Citing the PHC order, the letter highlights that legal matters and court cases are being handled inadequately by offices and field formations under the FBR, deeming such deficiencies unacceptable.

All chief commissioners of inland revenue have been directed in the letter to ensure full compliance in their respective jurisdictions to prevent such situations in the future and to implement foolproof mechanisms for the timely submission of responses and para-wise comments in tax dispute cases before superior courts.

The letter stresses strict adherence to higher judiciary directives and the timely submission of responses and para-wise comments by relevant FBR field formations in line with court-provided timelines.

These measures are deemed necessary to prevent situations where the salary of any FBR officer may be frozen due to non-compliance with judicial directives, it said.