Federal Tax Ombudsman Reports Record Performance in 2024

The Federal Tax Ombudsman handled thirteen thousand five hundred complaints from taxpayers in twenty twenty-four, with only three hundred and thirty-six of these being contested by the Federal Board of Revenue before the President of Pakistan.

Dr Asif Mahmood Jah, the Federal Tax Ombudsman, presented the annual report for twenty twenty-four to President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday. This presentation made the FTO the first among all Federal Ombudsmen to fulfill the statutory requirement of submitting the annual report for the year.

President Zardari commended the outstanding performance of the FTO and stressed the importance of further facilitating taxpayers in addressing grievances related to the Federal Board of Revenue’s maladministration.

Dr Jah highlighted the year’s achievements, noting that when he assumed office in twenty twenty-one, the total number of complaints stood at two thousand eight hundred and sixteen. By twenty twenty-four, this figure had surged to a record thirteen thousand five hundred and six complaints, reflecting increased taxpayer confidence in the FTO’s ability to resolve grievances.

Out of these complaints, twelve thousand nine hundred and fourteen were resolved in twenty twenty-four, surpassing all previous records. The FTO issued recommendations on thirteen thousand five hundred complaints, with three hundred and thirty-six challenged before the President. President Zardari reviewed three hundred and seventy-nine representations, including some from the previous year, and ruled in favor of the FTO in three hundred and twenty-six cases.

The FTO’s decisions were implemented at a high rate of ninety-four point seven percent, with taxpayers receiving refunds amounting to twenty-two point seven nine billion rupees on the Ombudsman’s directions. The average time to resolve complaints was reduced to thirty-four days.

In twenty twenty-four, one thousand seven hundred and five complaints were addressed informally under section thirty-three of the FTO Ordinance, often within days. This surge in complaint registrations was attributed to a record two hundred and seventy outreach sessions conducted nationwide, targeting the business community and other institutions.

The FTO also successfully resolved numerous complaints from overseas Pakistanis, many through informal mechanisms. Among its landmark decisions, the FTO provided significant relief to low-paid contractual employees, teachers, and art students across the country.

Additional efforts included the publication of the Taxpayers’ Rights booklet and a compendium of important FTO orders, aiming to empower taxpayers and enhance transparency in the tax system.