Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) decided a complaint of an aging senior citizen who sought FTO’s interference against an order of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) where his plea for refund of advance tax was rejected.
In its judgment, the FTO declared that the refund claim of a senior pensioner aged about 82 years was processed by the officer concerned in manners which was a mockery of law, procedure and instructions of the FBR.
A willful, unjust, oppressive and malicious delay in disposing of complaint’s refund application for tax year 2020 and then rejecting the same in derogation of relevant provisions of law and FBR’s instructions on the same subject was tantamount to sheer maladministration under provisions of FTO ordinance, the judgment stated.
FTO also directed Commission Inland Revenue, East Zone, Regional Tax Office Islamabad to revisit his order and to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the official/Unit Officer concerned. FTO while expressing his displeasure stated that it appeared that unlawful treatment meted out in the instant case was but with a view to irritate and humiliate an aging pensioner and it couldn’t be tolerated on any account.
The Complainant filed his return of income Tax for Year 2020 and claimed refund of an amount of Rs 2333/- which was already paid by him on account of advance tax on his landline phone and cell phone. He also submitted requisite documents but the Unit Officer rejected the refund application on the ground that the original copies of tax deduction certificate were not provided saying.
