ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Member Taxpayers Audit Rehamtullah Khan Wazir has believed that new trend in taxpayers audit will not only promote compliance with the existing tax laws but will also generate more revenues.
He expressed these views during an exclusive interview with Customs Today. Rehmatullah Wazir said that the audit policy for 2016, will continue in future and new balloting will be held under the same policy because this audit policy is paradigm shift from the past. This approach will minimize taxpayers complaints, resulting in increased confidence in the system.
Rehmatullah Wazir said that Taxpayers Audit wing was established in January 2003 and it was assigned the task of restructuring and reforming the audit policy. The main tasks included drafting National Audit Manual, preparing National Audit Plan and training the FBR workforce in modern auditing techniques.
Tax Audit is an effective instrument of control with the FBR through which compliance level is monitored. Through audit, the government checks whether a registered person/ taxpayer has correctly determined his tax liability, deposited due tax in the national exchequer and is making adjustments of input tax etc, to which he is legally entitled He said the right audit approach will help Federal Board of Revenue in broadening the tax base in focusing risk areas.
This can be assured through equitable tax policies where a taxpayer knows that good citizens are appreciated. He said since 2001 voluntarily compliance has been the primary focus of Federal Board of Revenue. FBR has always trusted the tax payers for their declarations. He assured that FBR is taking great care to ensure that audits are conducted in courteous, efficient, professional and effective manner as well as with highest standards of integrity.
Taxpayers are selected for audit on the basis of a transparent and automated process. The selection is done by computer, using different information items and parameters, without resorting to any identity details of the taxpayers.
He said auditors and managers are expected to meet the highest ethical standards. Disciplinary actions will be initiated against those who choose to conduct themselves in an unethical manner. A quality review process has been established to ensure that prescribed standards and procedures are followed and there is uniformity in application of laws and procedures.
It is pertinent to mention here that Member Taxpayers Audit recently has been promoted in Grade 22 and he will be retired in March 2018.
