LAHORE: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has adjourned the hearing of a case filed by proprietors SECO Engineering against the Regional Tax Office-II (RTO-II) until the next date.
FTO Consultant Tariq Yousaf heard the case of Qaiser Shakeel, proprietors SECO Engineering, in which counsel for the appellant argued that the RTO had failed to release the sales tax refund of the last two years.
He said the RTO-II had been collecting excessive tax from the company for the last two years. They approached the commissioner concerned many times for release of refunds but RTO-II officials did not entertain the case of refunds after the passage of reasonable time.
At the end, the company decided to approach the FTO seeking intervention in this case. The counsel appealed the FTO advisor to direct the RTO-II to clear the refund claims.
The counsel further said the RTO should refund the excess collection by the end of financial year but the situation is quite otherwise. Delay in release of refunds puts the burden on the taxpayer, he said, 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 the record in the office on which basis it is claiming for refunds. If appellant provides an accurate record, the RTO will release the refunds, if any, after a proper assessment.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the FTO adjourned the case until next hearing and directed the parties to appear on the date to present their arguments in the case.
