ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: The Board-in-Council (BIC) of the Central Board of Revenue has decided to review all existing laws to make them simpler and taxpayers' friendly.

The decision among others was taken in a BIC meeting headed by CBR Chairman M. Abdullah Yousuf here on Monday. The decisions were taken following a presentation to the council by the relevant members. The meeting decided to review all laws administered by the CBR to simplify and bring them in line with the concepts of self-assessment and voluntary compliance.

It was also decided that best practices in other tax administrations around the world needed to be critically studied, compared and role models identified before taking a decision on the subject. It was decided that not only the officers but also staff needed to be trained for which comprehensive strategy needed to be developed.

OTHER DECISIONS: It was decided that in future it would be ensured that all notifications, circulars, etc., issued are simultaneously placed on the websites; alternate dispute resolution mechanism to be advertised and taxpayers motivated to use this facility; member of the Information and Management Science (IMS) will initiate the process of converting the CBR into e-CBR; to initiate a comprehensive communication strategy for disseminating the tax administration reform initiatives to the stakeholders in particular, the taxpayers and the officers and staff down the line and invite their comments and suggestions to the steps that are being taken; identification of existing officers and staff welfare facilities and proposals for further developing and improving such facilities.