ISLAMABAD: Member Taxpayers Audit, Federal Board of Revenue, Rehmatullah Khan Wazir has laid emphasis on the auditors for ensuring high quality service to the taxpayers for which tax laws should be applied and administered in a reasonable, practical, fair and impartial manners. He advised them to conduct the audit within the bounds of law in a cost-effective and efficient manner. He hoped that all the remaining audit cases would be completed on time and we have also expedited the recovery process. The audit of the taxpayers should be conducted in professional and transparent manners.
He stated this while giving an exclusive interview to Customs Today.
He said one of the primary goals of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is to improve the overall compliance with the tax laws and instill confidence into the community ensuring that the tax system and administration are fair. The FBR now follows a combination of taxpayers’ facilitation and compliance strategies. It essentially means encouraging the taxpayers to comply with the tax laws voluntarily through self-assessment and, at the same time, mitigate the risk of false declarations by employing a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory audit policy. Moreover, the interface between the taxpayer and the tax collector has substantially has been increased through extensive use of information technology, automated business processes and legislative interventions aimed at improving the tax compliance system.
He explained that in the present day context, it is neither advisable nor feasible to audit every single taxpayer. Taxpayer’s population to be audited is therefore to be determined keeping in view the capacity of the workforce available with the field formations. We have therefore developed an effective compliance management system through promoting voluntary compliance achieved through self-assessment and developing modern approaches to audit based on effective risk management. He said, through effective tax audits, FBR wants to indentify and plug the tax avoidance loopholes and create an effective deterrence against tax evasion. He said in order to complete the audit successfully the role of Chief Commissioner, Commissioners, and Additional Commissioners is of paramount importance. They are not only expected to ensure quick disposal of audit but also maintain a reasonable and respectable level of audit quality by providing suitable guidance and mentoring to the audit teams. He suggested that external and online resources should be used to get information wherever possible instead of bothering the taxpayer for it and establish a positive relationship with the taxpayer to help complete the audit effectively and on time.
