June 11, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1424

ISLAMABAD, June 10: The finance ministry has asked the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to allow taxpayers to file returns through old form with minor changes under the universal self assessment scheme (USAS) to be effective from July 1, 2003.

A senior official in the finance ministry told Dawn on Tuesday, the finance minister, Shaukat Aziz has taken the decision following the complaints of chambers and associations against the new forms.

The minister directed the CBR to disband the idea of new return form for at least the current financial year, said the official.

The CBR had already sent the proposed 7 pages return form to the relevant stakeholders for seeking their comments, suggestions and proposals within 15 days to make it more user-friendly.

From July 1, 2003 all the returns filed by the taxpayers would be declared under self-assessment scheme and there would be no separate balloting system for it, said the official.

The earlier proposal of 46 page return form was condensed to seven pages, which was again not accepted by the taxpayers, added the official.