ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has directed the tax officials to convince the taxpayers to resolve arrears of tax through the forum of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) committees.

An official in the CBR told Dawn that necessary instructions had been issued to all tax officials to constitute ADR committees to liquidate the tax arrears as a part of facilitating the taxpayers.

The CBR has already worked out rules for the ADR mechanism for resolving the disputes of customs duties, sales tax, income tax and central excise duty.

These committees would be represented by professionals from private sector and senior tax officials from the respective tax departments.

The taxpayers would have the choice to take advantage of this mechanism for tax disputes pending with any appellate forum so as to get quick settlement of the same.

They would continue to have the right of appeal if they were not satisfied with the findings of the committee and limitation for appeal should be extended for the period consumed in alternate dispute resolution process.