ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Justice (retired) Saleem Akhtar has asked the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) to direct the tax officials not to harass the taxpayers.

The decision was taken on the complaint of TEKG GEMINI, Rawalpindi, against the additional commissioner of income tax who demanded undue tax in violation of laws.

The justice observed that the action of the assessing officer was arbitrary, unjust, oppressive and lacked bonafide. The complainant was first fraudulently trapped by the assessing officer to immediately enhance his tax collection, he added.

The FTO recommended to the CBR to direct the commissioner of income tax to reconsider the facts and circumstances of the case by invoking his jurisdiction and pass necessary order in accordance with the agreement made by the additional commissioner with the complainant.

The justice said the assessing officer be subjected to counselling and be kept under observation for six months and a periodical report after every three months be submitted to the registrar.

The compliance be reported with 30 days of this order, he added.