LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has heard an appeal filed by the Proprietor Pakistan Mineral Processing against the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) and adjourned the hearing until the next date. The FTO also sought relevant details to decide the case.
FTO Consultant Mian Munawar Ghafoor heard the case. The counsel for the appellant had argued that the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO) failed to release the tax refund of the last two years claimed by the company.
He said the RTO has been collecting excessive taxes for the last two years. He approached the commissioner concerned many times for release of refunds but the CRTO officials did not pay the refunds, even after the lapse of a reasonable time.
At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO, seeking intervention in the case. The counsel appealed to the FTO advisor to direct the CRTO to clear refund claims.
The counsel further said the CRTO should refund the excess collection in the wake of taxes by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in release of refunds puts burden on the taxpayer, he said, adding the CRTO Lahore should make audit of the case and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the FTO advisor postponed the case of the Proprietor Pakistan Mineral Processing until the next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present arguments in the case. The FTO will hear the case after two weeks, parties informed.
