KARACHI, Aug 31: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has assured tax bars of resolving all problems and technical glitches being experienced by them and taxpayers in the process of electronic filing of monthly and annual statements and tax returns.

In a meeting held with the chairman of FBR, Abdullah Yousuf, in Islamabad on Thursday, heads of all tax bars, led by the president of All-Pakistan Tax Bar Association (APTBA), Andrabi Naved, problems pertaining to electronic filing were raised.

It was resolved that Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd (PRAL) will remove all technical and operational glitches being experienced by tax consultants and taxpayers.

Another important decision taken by the FBR chairman was with regard to new tax returns for 2007 which were different from the returns already prescribed for previous years.

There was a general complaint that returns were reduced to one page on the ground of simplicity.

However, all member bars and taxpayers were of the view that returns were no practical as columns and forms were reduced to micro levels. Therefore, there was a practical problem in filling returns on which the FBR chief agreed to prescribe new returns for the tax year 2007.

The new return for individuals and association of persons will be revised. And the prescribed form return will be on two pages separating the return and the statement under Section 115(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

It was also agreed to extend the date for filing of monthly and annual statements under Section 165 of the Income Tax Ordinacne 2001 to Sept 30.

The corporate taxpayers under the jurisdiction of Large Tax Payers’ Unit, Karachi, will also be allowed to file their statements and returns through e-portal of the FBR i.e. e.cbr.gov.pk.

It was further agreed that employers’ certificate for salaried individuals who may have other sources of income will be prescribed, preferably in the already available format.

Another issue which was badly hitting tax consultants with regard to liability was also amicably resolved.

The FBR will review the issue of reducing the liability of the e-intermediaries to the extent of filing of the returns only as against the one prescribed under Section 52A(5) of the Sales Tax Act, 1l990.

Beside the president of APTBA, Munawar Shaikh, president, Incom Tax Bar Association, Karachi, Younus Rizwani Sheikh, Abdul Qadir Memon, Javed Kazi, Ali A Rahim, Hafiz Idrees, Haider Patel represented their respective bodies.