Federal Tax Ombudsman Resolves Record Number of Taxpayer Complaints

KARACHI: Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah announced that his office resolved 57,000 taxpayer complaints during his four-year term, surpassing the 37,000 cases addressed by his predecessors over the past 21 years. This milestone was shared during a farewell luncheon at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

During the event, Dr. Jah emphasized the FTO’s commitment to providing swift justice to taxpayers, from individuals to corporate entities. He credited collaboration with chambers of commerce and the appointment of honorary advisors from the business community for the office’s success in promoting public-private partnerships.

Dr. Jah reflected on his appointment by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, citing his extensive experience in taxation as a key factor. He highlighted the transformation of the FTO into a responsive institution, reducing decision times and addressing major issues like company blacklisting and biometric verification challenges.

One of the notable achievements cited was the release of refunds worth Rs55 million to Suzuki vehicle buyers who faced discrepancies in GST rates. Dr. Jah also mentioned significant efforts in clearing pending refund cases, resulting in the issuance of Rs18 billion and Rs23 billion refunds over two years.

The FTO’s expansion to additional cities and the simplification of complaint registration, including via WhatsApp, were also mentioned as part of the office’s efforts to enhance accessibility and efficiency.

Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Group, Jawed Bilwani, and KCCI President, Rehan Hanif, praised Dr. Jah’s proactive approach and contributions to easing taxpayer burdens, highlighting the opening of new FTO offices and the improved online complaint management system.

The speakers expressed hope for continued collaboration between the KCCI and the FTO to further support the business community and ensure timely justice for taxpayers.