17th September, 2018 (MLN): Rawalpindi Islamabad Tax Bar Association (RITBA) on Monday demanded the appointment of judges as commissioner appeals in the FBR so that rights of taxpayers can be protected.
Taxpayers deserve facility of an independent forum where their disputes with tax authorities could be settled amicably, it said.
If a taxpayer does not agree to a decision of the FBR, he has to file an appeal with commissioner appeals which is also an employee of FBR that is against the principles of justice and it can result in exploitations, said Syed Tauqeer Bukhari, President RITBA.
He said that fair and independent appellate forums are required for tax adjudication system for which commissioner appeals must not be an FBR official but appointment should be made by the law ministry.
The second step to challenge the decision of commissioner appeal is Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) which should be placed under the command and control of High Court or Supreme Court to ensure the protection of rights of taxpayers, he demanded.
Syed Tauqeer Bukhari said that the sensitive issue of taxation should not be left to the will of officials answerable to FBR authorities as the present taxation system insulates wealthy while putting an extra burden on poor which must be reversed through reforms and rolling back unjustified tax concession.
He noted that direct taxation has not been increased to reasonable levels during the last five years while the number of filers has declined substantially which calls for urgent and meaningful reforms.
