KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has directed officials to adjust refunds of taxpayers against demand created as result of any assessment order.
Dr. Muhammad Tariq Masood, Chief Commissioner-Inland Revenue of Regional Tax Office (RTO)-II Karachi has issued instructions after a meeting with members of Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA), that if demand is created as a result of any assessment order or amended assessment order and determined refunds are available then net demand after adjustment of refunds is to be recovered. “Therefore, officers must exercise due care of this aspect as well,” according to the notification.
It is also directed to ensure service of orders/notices as per requirements of Section 218. Service through Iris – the FBR portal – alone is not sufficient to meet legal requirements, therefore all orders/notices are also to be served through courier/email (by attaching ‘word file of the document’). “No recovery of tax may be initiated without proper service of demand notice and the assessment order,” it said.
The tax bar highlighted a serious issue of presence of private persons hired by officials of FBR, who have access to sensitive and confidential information of taxpayers.
The chief commissioner issued instructions that all officers should be careful and no unauthorized (private) employee should be allowed to work and such practice, if any must be stopped forthwith.
