LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed a hearing of a case filed by Azhar Munir, a resident of Hafizabad, against the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Gujranwala until the next hearing.
FTO Advisor Mian Munawar Ghafoor heard the case in which counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO Gujranwala has not released the refund to the appellant since two years.
He said the RTO Gujranwala has been collecting excessive taxes from the appellant for the last two years. The company approached the officer concerned many times for the release of the refunds but the department did not entertain his requests, even after the passage of a reasonable time.
Finally, the appellant decided to approach the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) seeking intervention in the case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the commissioner of the RTO Gujranwala to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said that delay in release of refunds puts the burden on the taxpayer so the RTO should make audit of the case and release the extra amount collected 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 he is claiming refunds. If the appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will release refunds, if any, after a proper assessment, he maintained.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the FTO Advisor adjourned the case and directed the parties to appear on the next date of hearing to present arguments in the case.
