FTO disposes off 1143 tax-related cases of 2004

ISLAMABAD—Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Secretariat received 1010 complaints while 1143 cases were disposed of during the year 2004.
FTO Secretariat sources told APP that out of 1143 cases 467 cases carried forward from the preceding year. According to the fifth annual report of Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), the report dilates on FTO's performance for the year 2004.
The report pinpoints maladministration committed by the revenue collecting departments and their functionaries for the relief of the taxpayers.
It also highlighted the recommendations made by the FTO Justice (retd) Munir A Sheikh which not only afforded relief to a large number of taxpayers but also enabled the tax collection departments under the revenue division to change their mindset and reform the system and procedures.
The report also said that the institution of ombudsmen is recognized the world over as the leader in providing timely and free of cost justice to the aggrieved taxpayers. This concept of delivery of speedy and quality justice has acquired a new trend of placing extra premium on the performance of Federal Tax Ombudsman in protection of the rights of the taxpayers.
The recommendations made by the FTO based on the findings, have substantially helped the revenue division to bring about a change in their routine practices and reform the system and procedures. The office of the FTO was established in September 19,2000 and the charter of the FTO, according to the establishment of the office of federal Tax Ombudsman, to diagnose , investigate , redress and rectify any injuries done to a person through maladministration by the functionaries administering tax laws, the report added.The report said that every finding in which maladministration is noticed on the part of the tax employees is always followed by recommendations in order to get the wrong corrected.
Positive attitude was shown by and large by the tax departments in the compliance of the recommendations made by the FTO. This, the report said helped to facilitate expeditious dispensation of justice.—APP