LAHORE: No nation has ever progressed without paying taxes for the betterment of their national economy and country. We shall have to understand the importance of taxation and our liabilities as citizen.
This was stated by Muhammad Omair Khan, Assistant Commissioner Zone II, Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) Lahore, while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
He said we want to improve our economy, we shall have to change our attitude towards taxation as a whole nation. Progress of the countries depends upon strong economy. Prosperity and survival of the national economy must be stronger.
Talking about the jurisdiction, Omair said he is currently looking after the charge of the Enforcement & Collection Units of Zone-II. Omair told Customs Today that he deals with private limited companies of huge quantum because small taxpayers’ cases fall in the jurisdiction of Regional Tax Office-II.
Assistant Commissioner said Inland Revenue is the backbone of the country because Inland Revenue Service (IRS) generates revenue to run the country, so he is very happy while performing at theFederal Board of Revenue (FBR). Adding more, Omair said he faces various challenges every day, every morning starts with a new situation and new targets are assigned by the seniors where he learns more each and every day.
At enforcement and collection, one has to rely not only on conventional techniques but also some innovative methods, he added. He said income tax/sales tax demand is created by the audit unit and then it is transferred to enforcement where it has to retrieve.
He said other herculean task is to enforce the income tax returns of the taxpayers. Unfortunately, we don’t have a proper documented economy in Pakistan. Due to this non-documentation, the documented sector (mainly salaried class and private limited businesses) has to bear the burden of non-documented economy as well. At enforcement, we go for the enforcement of income tax/sales tax returns making it a law for all.
Talking about the problems faced by the officers of the FBR, he maintained that while doing our job we have to face various issues like shortage of trained staff. Public sentiment does not correspond to get the economy documented, he remarked. He suggests that as a nation we need to understand that we will have to educate our younger generations about taxation and its importance like it’s done in western countries from the very early age.
He said it is taught there that it is your compulsory communal duty to pay taxes and become a useful contributing member of society. Here in Pakistan, we will have to make it clear that evading tax is not only a bitter form of a crime but also a sinister act. It is like one is stealing from national exchequer.
He said to improve taxation system in Pakistan, Inland Revenue Service (IRS) is trying its best to make a taxpayer friendly environment while maintaining the writ of the department as well. “We have to focus on the mid-level traders and shop keepers who are doing business and earning even millions but not paying a single penny”, he reminded.
