ISLAMABAD, July 15: The government will merge existing 734 income tax department circles into 12 regional tax offices and three large taxpayers units (LTUs) across the country as part of revamping the tax administration by December 2005 , Central Board of Revenue (CBR) chairman M. Abdullah Yousuf said on Thursday.

In a meeting with regional commissioners of commerce and commissioners of income tax, he said major changes were being brought in income tax system and other tax fields to make the CBR a viable progressive and reformed organization.

All our policies must be futuristic and pro-active, he said. Instead of income tax deputy commissioner being incharge of circles responsible for administration, legal and quasi-judicial functions in respect of his circle, the work will be performed in future on functional basis, he said.

Education and facilitation will be the hallmark of the new system, he added. Referring to tax collection, he said all possible facilities and working tools would be provided to achieve the target of Rs580bn. He advised the officials to pay all attention to increase the number of return filers and broaden the tax base.