Official offers help to resolve complaints about taxation

MANSEHRA: The federal tax ombudsman’s advisor in Hazara, Shaukat Mehmood, on Friday said people should approach his office for prompt disposal of complaints regarding taxation and harassment by Federal Board of Revenue’s officials.

“Citizens should pay direct and indirect taxes due on them in accordance with government’s policy, if officials in the FBR harass, or serve them with notices without lawful authority should approach us for action against them,” he told reporters here.

He said that his department settled thousands of complaints and even ensured repayments unjustly collected by the FBR to complaints.“We settle all complaints moved by affectees regarding extra tax collection, unjustified notices and harassment within two months,” Mehmood said.

He said that their teams wrap up investigations on any complaint moved to it by complainants within 45 days and also initiate the dispensation of justice process.“The entire process from an application to decree is free of cost and complaints should never hesitate to come forward to approach us against discrepancies and corruption by the FBR,” he added.

The advisor said that they also paid back extra money collected in the garb of levies by the FBR to thousands of complaints.“One can lodge his complaint via website, email, cellular phones, portal and post office without spending even a single penny,” Mehmood said.

He added that complaints raised by the tax filers were also entertained and disposed of within a stipulated period as owing to the Federal Tax Ombudsman’s role millions were returned to taxpayers.