ISLAMABAD: Taking a strong notice of a large number of stuck up taxation and revenue cases, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to establish a Directorate of Law.
According to a careful estimate, a huge amount of Rs 30 billion is being stuck up due to the sub judice taxation and revenue with the courts and non recovery of the said amount is not only inflicting loss to the national exchequer, benefiting the tax evaders who had pursued the courts just to avoid timely payment of said amounts also.
“FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa has assigned the task to Member Legal Ahmad Dildar on the establishment of the said Directorate of Law” a well placed official source at FBR told Customs Today here on Wednesday.
Currently, FBR is in the process of achieving growth in revenues by reposing confidence in the taxpayer community and simultaneously implementing the tax laws fairly and squarely. Legal Wing of the FBR helps in implementation of the tax laws.
The objective of growth in revenue is achieved in coordination with other Wings of FBR. Legal Wing of FBR is in incessant efforts to ensure proper representation of Revenue before various legal forums.
The proposed Directorate of Law will be headed by a Director General, an officer of Grade-21, while the regional offices will be led by officers of Directors level. The said Directorate will have head office here in the Federal Capital whereas regional offices will be established in all four provincial capitals as well as major cities and cities for the establishment of regional offices will be selected on the basis of volume of tax and revenue collection.
FBR is developing contours of short term and long term taxation policy by introducing amendments and changes on massive scale on the basis of changing economic scenario.
The basic objective of the establishment of Directorate of Law at FBR is to pursue taxation and revenue related cases at High Courts and other courts vigorously.
A provision regarding the establishment of said Directorate had been incorporated in the Finance Bill 2013 but since then it has not been invoked so far.
Now, with an objective of hot pursuit of taxation and revenue sub judice cases, this provision is being invoked. This Directorate will prepare compile identical comments to be presented before the High Courts during the hearing of identical cases.
Moreover, record of presented identical comments and arguments before the courts on identical cases will also be maintained so that same arguments can be presented in other courts in the hearing of cases of same nature.
Presently, FBR consuls often present different arguments before different courts during the hearing of cases of same nature which earn a lot of harassment for the organization as well as cast negative impact on decisions of the said cases, because perplexing comments often convince the jurists to issue judgments against the FBR.
For early hearing and resolution taxation and revenue cases of the FBR, the said Directorate of Law will write letter to Chief Justices of the High Courts to place the said cases on the cause list on priority basis.
