LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has postponed the hearing of a case filed by M/s Cotton Web (Private) Limited against the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Lahore until the next date of hearing.
FTO Advisor Tariq Yousaf heard the case where counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO-I had failed to release the sales tax refund to the appellant of the last two years.
He said that the RTO collected excessive tax from M/s Cotton Web (Private) Limited Lahore during the last two years. He approached the officers concerned many time for issuance of the refunds but the RTO officials did not pay the refunds after the passage of reasonable time.
Finally, the appellant decided to approach the FTO seeking interference in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said that the delay in issuance of refunds put burden on the taxpayers, adding that the RTO should make audit of the cases and release the extra amount collected by it from the taxpayer.
On the other hand, counsel for RTO argued that the appellant has not submitted all record in the office on which basis it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides accurate record, the RTO will issue the refunds if any after proper assessment, he added.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Advisor Tariq Yousaf adjourned the case until next date for further hearing and directed the parties to appear on said date to present their arguments in the case.
