Government Introduces Bill to Expedite Tax Recovery Process

Government Tables Bill to Expedite Tax Recovery Process

The National Assembly witnessed a significant development as the government introduced a bill aimed at expediting the recovery of over Rs2 trillion stuck in litigation before the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR). The Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024 seeks to amend the Sales Tax Act 1990 to address the backlog of tax cases amounting to Rs2,700 billion across various appellate forums. The bill proposes increasing the number of ATIRs from 20 to 35 to accelerate the process and ensure fair appointments through open competition.

The proposed legislation also includes provisions to protect taxpayers' rights, such as reducing the appeal duration in high courts from 90 days to 30 days and granting automatic stays to prevent immediate withdrawal of funds. The government has collaborated with the Tax Bar Association to draft the bill and welcomes suggestions for further improvement.

In a separate development, the government and opposition members have agreed on a formula for the distribution of standing committees, aiming to finalize the committee formation in an upcoming meeting. The issue of wheat procurement and alleged maltreatment of Bushra Bibi sparked heated debates in the assembly, highlighting ongoing concerns and disagreements between the ruling party and opposition.

In conclusion, the government's proactive approach to address tax recovery delays and the collaborative efforts to streamline committee distributions reflect a positive step towards legislative efficiency and transparency in the National Assembly.