recorder report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tax Adviser Association has expressed serious concern over the closure of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) portal at 4:50pm on Wednesday. The web portal was created for filing of declarations and depositing tax under the Assets Declaration Scheme-2019.

According to a communication of Chairman Pakistan Tax Adviser Association Javed Iqbal Qazi to FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi here on Wednesday, it is submitted that FBR Portal was closed at 4:50pm (Wednesday) from the FBR control room whereas all those taxpayers who have deposited tax in the government treasury for E-File Assets Declarations, which were due by Wednesday, have been denied the right under the law.

The system, however, functioned time to time for short intervals but did not facilitate the taxpayer for complete e-filing. This act of the FBR has shattered the confidence of taxpayers in FBR/federal government, Qazi said.

It appears to be a deliberate attempt on the part of the FBR, not to provide the right to the taxpayers to avail the scheme by depositing tax in the government treasury, he maintained.

It is, therefore, requested that all those taxpayers who have deposited tax in government treasury on Monday may be allowed to e-file their declarations; otherwise, taxpayers will be constrained to avail legal remedy under the law, Qazi added.