ISLAMABAD (July 12 2003) : The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has launched a countrywide survey to monitor/evaluate the working of Tax Facilitation Centres (TFCs) established for providing relief to taxpayers.
Official sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that the government would conduct this survey to collect all relevant information from the collectors/commissioners pertaining to TFCs before opening of more centres at new locations.
The authorities would get collectors'/commissioners' views on the proposal of reward and punishment to the taxpayers at TFCs.
The CBR is expected to finalise results of survey by July 20, 2003.
The CBR has framed a comprehensive questionnaire for the regional offices to monitor working at these centres for further improvement.
The questionnaire would be instrumental in collecting data on existing infrastructure of NFCs, staff, services, monitoring and suggestions for improve quality of service at these centres.
Quality of service provided to the taxpayers would be checked from questions pertaining to TFCs response on taxpayers' queries through direct contact or mail, e-mail or telephone.
Sources said that besides its coercive function, CBR in recent years has reviewed its entire public relations and communication strategies and is seeking to increase the effectiveness of its activities by being closer to the taxpayer.
This increased presence encompasses the implementation of a modern taxpayer assistance system, development of mechanism to facilitate compliance of tax obligations and communications with taxpayers, faster and simpler operations and tax educational activities.
There is no other better way to facilitate voluntary compliance of tax obligations than by providing assistance to the taxpayers through TFCs.
In order to build a responsible relationship between the tax administrators and taxpayers, CBR intends to develop TFCs where quality taxpayer service will be provided to taxpayers in a friendly environment.
However, before embarking on this ambitious undertaking of setting up of TFCs, the department intends to assess the present status of taxpayer services provided in the Commissionorates/Collectorate, officials added.
