ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Justice Saleem Akhtar, has directed Central Board of Revenue (CBR) for exclusion of a complainant from the list of audit under self assessment scheme (SAS).

The FTO observed that none of the criteria set by the CBR in guidelines for selection of cases by the Regional Commissioner was applicable to the case of complainant, and selection of his audit was, therefore, arbitrary, said an official announcement issued on Wednesday.

The complainant, Hanif Rajput & Company Caterers and Decorators-URF, Karachi alleged mal-administration in the instant complaint on the part of the RCIT, Southern Region, Karachi for arbitrarily setting apart the return filed by the complainant under SES for total audit by invoking para 9(a) (ii) of CBR circular No 4 of 2001.

The Ombudsman recommended to the CBR to exclude the complainant return from the list of cases selected under para (9)(ii) for audit and for its acceptance under SAS.

The FTO said that the compliance report should be submitted to his office within 30 days of this order, added the announcement.