The Federal Board of Revenue has conducted computer ballot for selection of cases for audit pertaining to tax year 2011. The selection has been made on the basis of three separate risk parameters for Income Tax, Sales Tax and Federal Excise Duty laws for corporate and non-corporate cases.

Member (Taxpayer Audit), while welcoming the participants, stated that payment of tax is national duty of all citizens, particularly those who are earning higher incomes. She informed the audience that FBR, through Universal Self Assessment Scheme, has reposed full confidence in the taxpayers’ community. Selection of 12,609 cases out of 1.677 million (0.75pc), filers of returns indicates that the audit selection is not for revenue generation, it is rather being used as a deterrence.

Therefore, the selection of approximately 15pc of returns filed in LTUs, 5pc of returns filed by corporate cases and 2pc of returns filed by non-corporate taxpayers in RTOs have been selected for audit only to promote voluntary compliance and taxpayers’ education. The selection is based on the parameters devised after consultation with all stakeholders.

She informed that FBR has ensured transparency in the process of selection of cases for audit. The list of cases selected for audit has been placed on FBR’s website showing taxpayer’s National Tax Number.

The business community representatives, who pressed the button for selection of cases, were Agha Mujeeb Ahmad Khan, President Rawalpindi Tax Bar, Raja Amer Iqbal, Executive Member Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Naeem Siddique, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Other representatives present on the occasion of All Pakistan Tax Bar Association, Islamabad / Rawalpindi and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were M. Aslam Anwar, Faraz Fazal and Abrar Ahmad Qazi.