ICCI hails FBR assurance not to conduct raids on taxpayers

ISLAMABAD, Dec 012 (DNA): The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(ICCI) has welcomed the assurance of Shabbar Zaidi, Chairman FBR for not
carrying out raids on places of registered taxpayers for collection of
income tax and sales tax and termed it a positive approach as it would
reduce the element of harassment from the business community and enable
them to focus on promoting business activities with more confidence.

Tahir Abbasi Acting President and Saif ur Rahman Khan Vice President,
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that ICCI has always
supported the initiatives to broaden the tax base as without improving
tax revenue, achieving sustainable economic development was not
possible.

They said that chambers of commerce were already playing positive role
in promoting formal economy and stressed that FBR should develop a
mechanism to maintain regular liaison with these trade bodies to resolve
tax issues and improve tax revenue with joint efforts.

They said that business community was playing key role in the economic
development of the country, but carrying out raids by FBR on business
premises was hurting the self-respect and tarnishing the image of
businesspersons in society, therefore, such approaches should be
avoided.

They stressed that to curb the smuggling, the performance of FBR
officials posted at borders and ports should be further improved as
smuggling was done in connivance with customs officials while raids were
carried out at retailers.

They said that retailers were only selling goods and they were issued
sales tax invoices while payments were made through cross cheque.
Therefore, strict checking of importers was required to cope with this
issue.

ICCI Office Bearers said that situation in the federal capital was
better but raids by FBR teams in any part of Pakistan on business
premises always triggered a wave of harassment in the business community
of the country.

They said that if FBR has any genuine tax complaint against any
businessperson, the department should first take chamber of commerce &
industry or market union of the concerned area on board to address such
issues with mutual efforts.

They were of the view that a relationship of trust and confidence
between the tax collectors and taxpayers was needed to achieve better
results for the economy.

They hoped that FBR would take more positive initiatives to build a
relationship of partnership with business community so that with joint
efforts, tax revenue of the country could be improved and Pakistan could
be put on the path of sustainable economic growth. DNA

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