MULTAN: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) is protecting rights of taxpayers through their efficient cost free and hassle free services in tax matters. Refunds are one of the major issues of the business community and it affects the liquidity of their running business in cases of delay from Federal Board of Revenue.
These views were expressed by Federal Tax Ombudsman Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera during his address to Multan Tax Bar Association during his visit. Federal Tax Ombudsman is trying to resolve issue of pending refunds of business community by directing tax officials to pay refunds as early as possible. He told that we need to cultivate and promote tax culture in the country for strengthen of economy.
He expressed that Pakistan has less GDP ratio than many African countries in the world due to demotion of tax culture and nobody is ready pay taxes voluntarily in Pakistan. Pakistanis never adopted tax culture in the country and there are lot of hurdles in the tax collection.
Our neighbour country India has almost 18 % GDP to tax ratio and Pakistan has almost 12 % GDP to tax ratio which is practically half. We have almost 3500 billion taxes annual tax collection in the country .There is still plenty of room available for the improvement of national economy through rectifying tax system of country. He said that we need to improve the tax collection for the advancement of our country.
We should pay taxes honestly for the broader interest of our country in order to run the country and Federal Tax Ombudsman will shield the honest taxpayers if they need any assistance from us. Way. There are lot of people in the country who persuade others how to save taxes from tax departments through different tricks .It is our national responsibility to pay liable taxes to Federal Board of Revenue on time for contribution of development in the country.
We have asked Federal Board of Revenue to simplify the tax returns procedure that people could pay their taxes easily without any assistance. Simplifying Tax Returns will also turnaround the tax base of country because there are large number of people who want to pay their returns conveniently without any help of tax consultant. Government should simplify tax returns forms to promote tax culture in the country.
He ensured that Federal Tax Ombudsman will take stern action against maladministration of tax machinery and those who will not implement the decision of FTO in cases of taxpayers. Federal Tax Ombudsman is working in the country with mission to redress public grievances in a fair, prompt and transparent manner. Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera said that his doors are always opened for honest taxpayers for assistance and we will protect them against any injustice from tax authorities.
Federal Tax Ombudsman had directed the tax department to issue tax genuine tax refunds of complainants and making their sincere efforts to settle tax disputes of taxpayers. He informed that taxpayers can directly approach him in case of any maladministration complain and action will be taken against them.
Furthermore, Multan Tax Bar Association has formed tax advisory committee for resolving their existing concerns to provide them relief in maladministration matters. President Multan Tax Bar Association Shabbir Fakhar ud Din, General Secretary Imran Ghazi, Khawaja Mueed and others presented honorary shield to Federal Tax Ombudsman on his special visit to MTBA.
