ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), on the advice of the Tax Reforms Commission (TRC), has activated Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) committees under the existing legal framework, in view of the fact that presently 27,000 appeals are pending before the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) and 5,000 cases before the Customs Tribunal.
It may be added that approximately 13,000 cases are pending before various high courts while revenue of around Rs 300 billion is stuck up in appeals. Realizing the enormity of huge stock of appeals and gigantic target for the last quarter of fiscal year 2016-2017, the FBR has notified panels of professionals including members of civil society having impeccable integrity have been included in the panel for dispute resolution.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees (ADRCs) will be formed within 60 days of the receipt of application from taxpayers. The ADRCs shall furnish its recommendation within 90 working days. The recommendations of ADRCs shall be assented or otherwise by FBR within 90 days and if no decision is taken by FBR after the expiry of 90 days, the recommendation of ADRCs shall be binding.
In this connection, the ADRC panels for 15 cities have been notified which will be helpful in resolving pending tax disputes through alternate dispute resolution mechanism. The Tax Reform Commission had played pivotal role in activating these forums which were dormant since more than one decade.
