Citizen's Charter of NBR unveiled
Sunday, 6 January 2008
FE Report
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam Saturday unveiled the Citizen's Charter of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in a bid to bring transparency and accountability in its work.
The Citizen's Charter will guide the service seekers about whom they need to contact and when to get the outcome, Islam said while speaking on the occasion at NBR premises.
It will ensure accountability and bring transparency in the activities of the revenue board, he said.
Tax revenue earning is linked to macroeconomic stability of the country, he said.
Stressing the need for ensuring 'businessmen friendly' environment, the finance adviser said the NBR should enforce the law 'uniformly' against corruption with a view to ensuring trade friendly environment for the honest ones.
Speaking on the occasion, NBR chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid said: "We will revise and amend the Citizen's Charter later, if necessary, after seeking opinion of different quarters."
The Citizen's Charter consisting three parts -- income tax, customs and Value Added Tax (VAT) - concerns all stakeholders, citizen and businessmen, Mazid said.
"We have released the charter today (Saturday), but field level offices will publish their individual charter by January 15 next," he further said.
The tax revenue accounts for 72 per cent of the government internal resources and 53 per cent of the national budget, he said.
The Citizen's Charter concerns the main activities of the NBR's three divisions -- income tax, customs and VAT, responsibilities of its officials, case disposal time, contact addresses of all officials as well as responsibilities of taxpayers.
Responding to the newsmen queries on government drive against tax evaders, Islam said: "The present trend of tax revenue collection is satisfactory as the government has been able to raise awareness among the people about regular payment of tax."
"The taxpayers have realised the fact that they cannot escape payment of tax," he said.
Asked whether the NBR's move on freezing bank accounts affecting the businesses or trade activities, Islam said only personal accounts were frozen, not the business accounts.
Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam Saturday unveiled the Citizen's Charter of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) in a bid to bring transparency and accountability in its work.
The Citizen's Charter will guide the service seekers about whom they need to contact and when to get the outcome, Islam said while speaking on the occasion at NBR premises.
It will ensure accountability and bring transparency in the activities of the revenue board, he said.
Tax revenue earning is linked to macroeconomic stability of the country, he said.
Stressing the need for ensuring 'businessmen friendly' environment, the finance adviser said the NBR should enforce the law 'uniformly' against corruption with a view to ensuring trade friendly environment for the honest ones.
Speaking on the occasion, NBR chairman Mohammad Abdul Mazid said: "We will revise and amend the Citizen's Charter later, if necessary, after seeking opinion of different quarters."
The Citizen's Charter consisting three parts -- income tax, customs and Value Added Tax (VAT) - concerns all stakeholders, citizen and businessmen, Mazid said.
"We have released the charter today (Saturday), but field level offices will publish their individual charter by January 15 next," he further said.
The tax revenue accounts for 72 per cent of the government internal resources and 53 per cent of the national budget, he said.
The Citizen's Charter concerns the main activities of the NBR's three divisions -- income tax, customs and VAT, responsibilities of its officials, case disposal time, contact addresses of all officials as well as responsibilities of taxpayers.
Responding to the newsmen queries on government drive against tax evaders, Islam said: "The present trend of tax revenue collection is satisfactory as the government has been able to raise awareness among the people about regular payment of tax."
"The taxpayers have realised the fact that they cannot escape payment of tax," he said.
Asked whether the NBR's move on freezing bank accounts affecting the businesses or trade activities, Islam said only personal accounts were frozen, not the business accounts.