Taxpayer complaints against FBR rise by 67 per cent: FTO

ISLAMABAD: The complaints filed by taxpayers against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) have gone up by 67 per cent compared to 2023.

Almas Ali Jovindah, Advisor for Legal & Media Wing, revealed that FTO Secretariat received 10,515 complaints over the past 10 months. Of which, 9,900 complaints have been resolved—an improvement compared to previous periods.

He noted that action against corrupt tax officials can only be taken after a complaint is filed by affected individual.

If a tax officer has accepted bribes or “speed money,” the complaint must be lodged with the FTO. Jovindah urged the business community to approach the FTO without fear of harassment.

Highlighting these achievements, Jovindah highlighted the increased use of Section 33 of the FTO Ordinance, which facilitates informal dispute resolution, thereby streamlining the process for taxpayers.

A significant outcome of the FTO’s intervention has been the faster processing of delayed tax refunds. In just 10 months, Rs2 billion was refunded to taxpayers, a sharp rise from Rs17.742 billion refunded in 2023.

Furthermore, Dr Jovindah has led a record 31 own-motion investigations into systemic issues within the tax administration, demonstrating the FTO’s commitment to addressing taxpayer grievances. In 2024 alone 117 outreach sessions were conducted to raise awareness among taxpayers.

Jovindah also credited the FTO’s improved performance to its advisory team’s extensive public outreach efforts, which have helped educate taxpayers on their rights. This has led to increased confidence in the institution, with more taxpayers seeking its help.

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