ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Secretariat clarified that the President of Pakistan has neither set aside nor annulled any decision of the FTO, nor imposed any restrictions on the FTO’s statutory powers relating to own-motion or inspection-based notices and proceedings.
In a news release, the FTO stated that certain sections of the media had reported inaccurately on a decision of the Hon’ble President of Pakistan regarding a representation filed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) against findings and directions issued by the FTO to tax authorities in own-motion and inspection-based proceedings.
The Secretariat explained that the President has only modified the relevant decisions to a limited extent. Specifically, where defects or irregularities are identified through own-motion investigations or inspections, the responsibility for determining the detailed and appropriate procedure for effective, transparent, and lawful corrective action will rest with the FBR.
According to the FTO, the President’s decision is fully in conformity with the law and supports, supplements, and validates the lawful exercise of the FTO’s powers in own-motion and inspection-based proceedings.
The Implementation Wing of the FTO Secretariat has taken up the matter with the Federal Board of Revenue and will proceed further in accordance with the decision of the Hon’ble President of Pakistan.
