FBR announces an incentive plan for timely tax probe

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced an incentive scheme for its officials in completion and timely submission of inquiry reports.
According to a media report, under the incentive scheme up to two basic salaries have been announced for the authorized officer for submitting inquiry report up to 60 days from receipt of letter nominating inquiry officer/authorized officer. The FBR has decided the incentive while observing that most inquiry officers were delaying the finalization of inquiries which lead to delay in conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against the officer/officials of FBR.
“This not only reflects poorly on the part of inquiry officer, authorized officer, authorised concerned but also puts the career of the accused officers in the state of limbo for longer periods,” the FBR said.
Therefore, with a view to encourage expeditious finalisation of inquiries and with a view to prevent delays in finalization of inquiries, the FBR chairman approved the incentive and punitive regime.
For inquiry officers/inquiry committees/fact finding inquiry officers/fact finding inquiry committees; for submitting quality reports to the satisfaction of the authorized officers/authorized concerned: two basic salaries to be given as incentive on submission of inquiry report up to 60 days from receipt of letter nominating inquiry officer / authorized officer; one basic salary to be given as incentive on submission of inquiry report up to 75 days from receipts of letter nominating inquiry officer/authorized officer; and half basic salary to be given as incentive on submission of inquiry report up to 90 days from receipt of letter nominating inquiry officer/authorized officer.
For authorised officers the incentive shall be one basic salary on disposal of inquiry report within 30 days from date of receipt of inquiry report. For authority the incentive shall be one basic salary for passing an order within 30 days from date of receipt of reply to show cause notice/recommendations of inquiry officer /authorized officer. The FBR also introduced a punitive regime for delaying inquiry reports.
The FBR said that the Internal Job Posting (IJP) allowance of inquiry officers/inquiry committee members/fact finding inquiry officer/fact finding inquiry committee members shall be discontinued who will take more than 100 days to complete the inquiry till completion of such inquiries.
Similar shall apply to authorized officers who take more than 40 days to decide the inquiry; and in case of proceedings against officers’ up to to BS-16; the authority who takes more than 40 days for doing the needful. The FBR said any excuse including requests for adjournment, non-availability of record etc., shall not be taken as valid excuse for lack of adherence to the time set for doing the needful. Time will not run only in the case of a valid stay order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
“These instructions will have prospective effect, but these instructions shall be applicable to all pending inquiries from the date of issuance of these instructions by the board. Accordingly, time will be from the date of issuance of these instructions.” The instructions have been implemented with effect from November 08, 2021. – TLTP