Pakistan’s Tax Authority, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new facility on its website which allows General public to file a complaint with ease against tax officials involved in corruption or maladministration.
The move is being termed revolutionary as it is the main step towards bringing transparency in Tax Collection mechanism. Previously, no such faiclity was available at Public Disposal and Complaint mechanism was a cumbersome process. Furthermore, FBR has also Introduced a Complaint Portal for the general public in this regard.
FBR website named the icon as : ‘For Immediate Redressal of Complaints, Press Button’. The FBR Tax Filing Portal (IRIS) provides five different ways for citizens to file complaints against tax officials including
- calling the FBR Helpline
- sending an email to the FBR’s official email
- Complaint Portal facility
- By post to Chairman FBR or notified committees
- Personally meeting the Chairman Integrity Management Cell at the FBR Headquarters and the Regional Integrity Committees (RICs)
FBR has further mentioned that it has also established a Probe Committee at the board level and RICs at the national level to verify the authenticity of the complaints that are filed against tax officials on the charges of corruption, bribery, and speed money.
After recommendations from In-charge of the Integrity Management Cell (IMC), the Chairman of the FBR may refer a case against an officer/official to another competent forum for it to take action under the relevant laws if there is substantial evidence of massive corruption against the official.
The In-charge IMC may, either himself or on the recommendation of an RIC and with the approval of the Chairman FBR, initiate an inquiry against an official if sufficient and lawful evidence for corruption against them is available.
Subsequent to the establishment of an IMC at the FBR and the constitution of RICs in the field formations under the FBR, the following Terms of Reference (TORs) are hereby framed for the transparent, fair, and judicious processing of complaints by the IMC and RICs.
How to lodge a Complaint against FBR/Tax Officials
A complaint against an FBR employee can be submitted in person to the IMC at the FBR (HQs) or to any of the designated Regional Integrity Committees through email or in writing along with the credentials of the complainant, including the name, CNIC, cell phone number, postal address of the complainant along with a written affidavit that certifies the authenticity and/or accuracy of the contents of the complaint and its supporting facts.
The time duration for the disposal of a complaint by the IMC and RICs will be 30 days and maybe extended by another 30 days by the In-charge IMC. All the accused officials will be given the opportunity of a hearing to defend themselves against the charges against them in the complaint in compliance with the basic principles of natural justice.
The complainant can also provide documentary evidence to support their allegations against an official or to withdraw their complaint during the verification/initial probe, after recording it in writing, following which the complaint may be dismissed by the IMC or the RICs.
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