05 December 2004	Sunday	22 Shawwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has resolved 62 cases of sales tax under the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to facilitate taxpayers.

Officials in the CBR said total applications received for resolving sales tax disputes through ADR mechanism were around 123.

Of these 123 applications, the CBR disposed of 62 cases and recommendations of the committee on other 40 cases were under process.

Out of the 62 cases which have been disposed of, 15 are those on which recommendations of the ADR committee have already been implemented, while in nine cases, implementation of recommendations was under process.

In three cases, parties availed amnesty under SRO247 of 2004, 19 cases have been examined and rejected by the board whereas 11 cases have been closed on the request of the parties concerned, which have availed the alternate remedy.

According to officials, right of appeal was one of the most important rights of taxpayers whereby they could prefer an appeal against any order that they believed to be contrary to the facts or unjust in one way or another.

The result was that a considerable number of appeals were pouring into our appellate and adjudication system everyday. This increase in number of appeals affects the very right of appeal as justice delayed was justice denied.

Taking cognizance of this situations and realizing taxpayers genuine problems, the government through Finance Act, 2004 expanded the ADR mechanism to Central Excise Duty, Customs and Income Tax as well.