LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) adjourned the hearing of a case filed by proprietor Falcon Trading Corporation against the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO), Zone-V Lahore, until the next date of hearing.
FTO Mian Munawar Ghafoor heard the case in which counsel for the appellant argued that the Corporate Regional Tax Office (CRTO), Zone-V, had failed to release the tax refund of the last two years claimed by the company.
He said the RTO has been collecting excessive tax from proprietor Falcon Trading Corporation for the last two years. He approached the commissioner concerned many times for issuance of refunds but the CRTO Zone-V officials did not pay the refunds after the lapse of reasonable time.
At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the CRTO to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said the CRTO should have refunded the excess collection in the wake of taxes by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in release of refund put the burden on the taxpayer, he said, adding that the CRTO Lahore should make audit of the case and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.
On the other hand, counsel for CRTO argued that appellant Malik Munawar Ahmed, proprietor Falcon Trading Corporation, has not submitted all the record in the office on which basis it is claiming refund. If appellant provides accurate record, the CRTO will release the refund, if any, after a proper assessment.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, FTO Mian Munawar Ghafoor adjourned the case until the next date of hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present arguments.
