LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case filed by M/s Sindhu Steel Mills against the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Sialkot until the next hearing.
FTO Advisor Mazhar Farooq Shairazi heard the case of Malik Faizur Rehman, M/s Sindhu Steel Mills in which the counsel for the appellant argued that RTO had failed to release the refund of the last three years.
He said that the RTO collected excessive tax from M/s Sindhu Steel Mills during the last three years. He approach the officer concerned many time for issuance of the refunds but the RTO Sialkot officials did not pay the refunds after the passage of reasonable time.
Finally, the appellant decided to approach the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO Sialkot to clear the refund claims as early as possible.
The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refund claims put 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 RTO Sialkot argued that the appellant has not submitted all record in the office on which basis it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will issue the refunds if any after proper assessment, he added.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, FTO Advisor adjourned the case until the next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on the said date to present arguments in the case.
