LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case filed by Muhammad Akhter, a resident of Sargodha, against the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Sargodha until the next hearing.
FTO Advisor Mazahar Farooq Shirazi heard the case in which counsel for appellant argued that the RTO Sargodha has not released the refund to the appellant since two years.
He said the RTO Sargodha has been collecting excessive tax from the appellant for the last two years. The company approached the officer concerned many times for release of refunds but the department did not pay refunds after the lapse of a reasonable time.
Finally, the appellant decided to approach the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) seeking intervention in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the commissioner of RTO Sargodha to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said delay in release of refunds put the burden on the taxpayers 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 the RTO argued that the appellant has not submitted all the record in the office on the basis of which it is claiming refund. If appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will release the refunds, if any, after a proper assessment, he maintained.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Advisor Mazhar Farooq Shirazi adjourned the case and directed the parties to appear on the next date of hearing to present arguments in the case.
