KARACHI: Federal Tax Ombudsman Asif Mahmood Jah has announced appointment of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) President Muhammad Tariq Yousuf as honorary advisor FTO to gain the business community’s confidence and for timely resolution of the problems.
Speaking at a ceremony held at KCCI to distribute cheques to refund the excess amount of sales tax paid against the purchase of Suzuki vehicles to the complainants, Asif Mehmood Jah said that as FTO was a public and business-friendly institution, it has appointed Advisors from various Chambers of Commerce as well with a view to bridge gap between FTO and the business community.
“Relevant notification about the appointment of President KCCI as Advisor FTO will be issued from FTO Lahore Office soon,” he added. He emphasized enhancing its outreach so that a maximum number of people could be acquainted with FTO’s functioning and relief could also be provided at the earliest.
“All Advisors and FTO staff have been strictly instructed that they are the advocates of taxpayers who deserve to be fully facilitated and appreciated as it is these taxpayers who play the role of the country’s backbone and it is because of their contribution that the wheels of the economy keep on spinning,” he said, adding that the number of complaints being received at FTO has risen sharply and the majority of the cases have either been settled immediately after FTO’s intervention without going into further legal proceedings.
The FTO was Pakistan’s vibrant legal forum wherein cases are decided within 60 days as it takes years and decades at other legal forums to get justice but at the FTO, cases are decided within 60 days, 6 days, and even within 6 hours and also within an hour.
Referring to concerns expressed over the opening of old cases and harassment being faced by those taxpayers who approach FTO for assistance, he said that FTO took up this issue with FBR and it has been assured through the issuance of circular that neither adverse action nor old cases will be opened against any taxpayer who approaches FTO for assistance.
Referring to refund of excess Sales Tax to buyers of Suzuki vehicles, he informed that a total of 9,500 taxpayers were approached by FTO who purchased Suzuki Vehicles and paid excess Sales Tax but the move was disliked by FBR and they approached the President of Pakistan for assistance but FTO’s decision was fully supported by President’s Office and the FBR was directed to issue refunds.
“Any other such case wherein excess Sales Tax has been paid for purchasing a Suzuki vehicle can also be referred to FTO and we’ll make sure that the complainant gets a refund,” he added in response to KCCI’s request.
