LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case filed by M/s Shalimar Steel Products (Private) Limited Lahore versus Regional Tax Office (RTO) Lahore until the next date of hearing.
According to the details, FTO Advisor Munawar Ghafoor heard the case of M/s Shalimar Steel Products in which the counsel for the appellant argued that the Regional Tax Office-I, (RTO-I) Lahore had failed to release the sales tax refund of the last three years claimed by the company.
He said that the RTO collected excessive tax from the company during the last three years. He approached the commissioner concerned many time for issuance of refunds but the RTO officials did not pay the refunds after the passage of reasonable time.
At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said that the RTO should refund the extra amount of taxes by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, he said, adding that the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.
On the other hand, counsel for RTO argued that the case of M/s Shalimar Steel Products has been under process. He said that if the appellant cooperates with the RTO and submits all the record in the office, the RTO will issue the refunds after proper assessment.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Advisor Munawar Ghafoor adjourned the case until next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present arguments in the case.
