Taxpayers Can Now Apply for Change in Tax Jurisdiction Via FBR Online

On the directions of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), taxpayers would now be able to apply/process for a change of tax jurisdiction from one city to another through an online module of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). An own motion investigation was initiated by the FTO office on account of the lack of an automated module on issues relating to change of jurisdiction creating hardships for taxpayers. While investigating various complaints, this office has received a number of complaints wherein, the taxpayers had to face hardships while applying for a change in jurisdiction. When it comes to applying for a change in the jurisdiction from one field office to another field office, the taxpayers have to submit manual applications which is time-consuming as no online module for applying change in jurisdiction is available in the IRIS system, FTO order said. The issue has already been decided in more than a hundred complaints by the FTO and also upheld by the President of Pakistan. The recommendations of the FTO in similar complaints were implemented by FBR, however, no permanent solution to efficiently handling change of jurisdiction applications was developed and made available. However, in the instant motion, the FBR has come up with an update by submitting that the online module will soon be available for the taxpayers as the test run has already been conducted on September 23, 2024. The hardships faced by the taxpayers due to inordinate delay on account of the non-availability of an online module for applying change of jurisdiction comes under the ambit of maladministration. Currently, the issue is under process for necessary changes in the system with the concerned Board authorities. The FBR should direct the Member (Information & Technology) to implement the proposed online module for applying and processing change of jurisdiction applications of the taxpayers within 45 days, the FTO order added.