KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is launching a series of online hearings next month allowing taxpayers to air their grievances and lodge complaints directly with the tax authorities.

Addressing the members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) on Monday, Chief Comm­issioner Inland Revenue Haider Ali Dharijo said that transparency was the top priority, as all the procedures and documents for the redressal of grievances had been made online.

Mr Dharijo said people could easily get income tax certificates online besides they could submit their tax returns with one click. Similarly, the refund payment system had fully been automated, the FBR commissioner added.

He claimed that Rs1.6 billion was refunded to leather exporters in the first half of the current fiscal year compared to Rs1bn paid in the corresponding period last year.

Kati Patron-in-Chief S.M. Muneer complained that the tax authorities did not make timely payments as a result a huge amount of refunds was still pending with the Federal Board of Revenue since 2007.

Korangi Association of Trade and Industry’s Standing Committee on the Federal Board of Revenue and Sindh Revenue Board and Taxation chief Masood Naqi said that the industrialists were taking full advantage of the faster scheme but now complaints of missing cases were being reported.

For resolving the tax issues of Korangi industrialists, Mr Dharijo assured that a focal person would be appointed within 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2022