ISLAMABAD: In view of the lack of IT skills of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers to conduct E-audit of business units and companies, having shifted their accounting procedures to IT-based system from manually maintained books of account (ledger, cash book, journal etc), FBR Member Taxpayers Audit Haroon Mohammad Khan Tareen has directed all Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) for training of E-Audit and computerised accounting module.
Haroon Tareen informed the field formations officers that a number of businesses had shifted their accounting procedures to IT-based systems from manually maintained account books.
It is to be noted that at time of audit of companies, the officers of Inland Revenue often feel handicapped due to lack of requisite IT skills and expertise particularly that of IT-based accounting operations. Generally, most of such software is based on Oracle platforms yet Inland Revenue officers are not equipped to handle such software, not to mention firewalls and security checks incorporated in the software by each user company. The Member Taxpayer’s Audit maintained that the FBR, however, can impart IT training of its officers to build their capacity and to enable them to examine and audit IT-based accounts without seeking external assistance.
Haroon Tareen also sought different information from field formations including how many companies in LTU/RTO jurisdiction had adopted IT-based accounts. (An approximate figure will suffice, if exact number is not ascertainable)?
Secondly, what type of software is generally encountered while examining IT based accounts e.g Oracle, IBM, Cisco, Ms Sql. etc.
Thirdly, how many restaurants/ hotel/ eateries (corporate and non-corporate) in respective jurisdiction of LTU/RTO have IT-based accounts, including electronic cash registers?
Fourthly, how many officers are proposed to be imparted such training? (Name, BPS and place of posting). It will be appreciated if a quick response is furnished as that will enable the FBR to make necessary arrangements for undertaking immediate training with the assistance of directorate of training (DOT), Haroon Tareen added.
