ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Revenue Haroon Akhtar Khan said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will facilitate taxpayers and focus on non-filers by enhancing taxes on them to improve the tax revenue of the country. He said FBR was determined to bring businesses into documentation and difference in tax rates for filers and non-filers would be further enhanced to push non-filers towards the formal sector. He visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) along with FBR Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha, Inland Revenue (Operations) Member Khawaja Tanvir Ahmad, Inland Revenue (Policy) Member Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Customs Member Muhammad Zahid, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Director General Shaukat Ali and Inland Revenue Intelligence and Investigation Director General Shad Muhammad. Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Zahid Latif, Senior Vice President Nasir Mirza and Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi were also present at the occasion. Haroon Akhtar said FBR was connecting with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and provincial authorities to promote documentation. He said government was also working on tax reforms to provide friendly environment to taxpayers. He said a simplified and one-page tax form would be developed for taxpayers of certain sectors. He said excluding agriculture, tax-to-GDP ratio had increased up to 14% to 15% and added that FBR was likely to get over 1.4 million filers this year. He said that audit process would be streamlined to facilitate taxpayers. He said Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee would be further refined for quick resolution of tax disputes. He assured that the proposals of business community would be given due consideration while finalising next budget. FBR Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha said that FBR had zero-tolerance for misbehaviour and harassment created on the part of tax collectors against any taxpayer, as maintaining the respect of taxpayers was top of its priorities. He assured that no raid would be conducted against any business premises without solid information. He said FBR had created three exclusive zones, one each at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to broaden the tax base. He said that from February onwards, taxpayers would fill the tax returns offline and submit them online. This arrangement would keep the server less busy and facilitate taxpayers in timely filing of returns. He said FBR paid 156% more sales tax refunds last quarter and would further expedite disposal of verified refunds. He said he had an open-door policy and assured that genuine complaints of taxpayers would be addressed. Speaking at the occasion ICCI President Sheikh Amir Waheed highlighted tax-related issues of business community. He said tax incentives should be given to local industry to promote imports substitution and GST should be reduced to single digit level to bring down cost of doing business. He said that 4.5% WHT on individuals having turnover of Rs 50 million or more should be revised, raids on business premises under sec-38 and sec-40B be stopped and regulatory duty on raw material of industries be withdrawn to facilitate the growth of manufacturing activities. He stressed that taxpayers should be given at least 5-year exemption from next audit. RCCI President Zahid Latif said that FBR should take business community onboard in the policy making process to achieve win-win results. ICCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Naveed, Vice President Nisar Mirza ICCI, Khalid Javed, Abdul Rauf, Tariq Sadiq, Ejaz Abbasi, Ch. Waheed-ud-Din, Nadeem Mansoor, Khalid Chaudhry and others also spoke at the occasion and highlighted various tax issues of business community for redress. Published in Daily Times, November 18th 2017.