The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Resolved 8,963 Cases and Refunded Rs. 17.74 Billion in 2023
The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) successfully addressed the concerns of taxpayers by handling 8,963 cases, achieving an implementation rate of 94.07% in 2023, compared to 73.29% the previous year.
Additionally, refund claims amounting to Rs. 17,742.16 million were processed in 2023, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) promptly paid the due amounts to the affected taxpayers.
FTO’s Annual Report 2023 was presented to President Dr. Arif Alvi during a meeting where FTO head, Asif Mahmood Jah, shared insights into the organization’s performance. The FTO has been actively working to facilitate taxpayers and quickly address their grievances related to tax officials’ maladministration.
Efforts were made to expand FTO’s reach through awareness campaigns, the establishment of regional offices, and the appointment of Honorary Advisors in various countries to assist overseas Pakistanis. Business leaders were also appointed as Honorary Advisors from different Chambers of Commerce and Industries to support the business community.
To ensure swift responses to maladministration issues, a mobile app was developed, allowing complainants to lodge and track complaints using mobile devices. Informative training sessions were conducted to enhance the professional skills of Ombudsman institutions nationwide.
President Arif Alvi praised FTO’s exceptional performance, emphasizing its role in processing a record number of cases and providing refunds to taxpayers. He stressed the importance of strengthening FTO further, highlighting its crucial role in delivering free-of-cost and prompt justice to aggrieved taxpayers.
The President urged the adoption of the latest technology for seamless service delivery and timely resolution of taxpayers’ complaints to enhance the efficiency of the country’s tax system. He commended FTO for its effective contribution to promoting good governance in Pakistan.
FTO serves as a quasi-judicial forum with a mandate to diagnose, investigate, and rectify any injustice or maladministration in the administration of federal tax laws. Its goal is to improve overall taxpayer satisfaction and strengthen trust in the system.