ISLAMABAD: The government is likely to announce the introduction of an electronic-assessment program in the budget (2023-24) to conduct taxpayer income tax assessments based on automated desk audits after applying risk-based parameters.
The Reforms & Revenue Mobilisation Commission (RRMC) has recommended an electronic-assessment scheme that will be faceless, jurisdiction-less, nameless, and paperless.
E-assessment is not a brand-new idea; in fact, Singapore, the UK, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Japan, Germany, India, and other nations already utilise it. Currently, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) requires that income tax forms be submitted online through its IRIS web portal; nevertheless, the assessment procedure is still done by hand. According to the RRMC, the committee suggests advancing this procedure.
The said mechanism will ensure an increase in transparency and efficiency of the revenue authorities and will thus result in improvement of quality of assessment and development of trust of taxpayers; reduce human interface; consistent view on various issues, and consistency of proceedings; avoidance of unwanted and prolonged litigation; ease of compliance of taxpayers as the proceedings will be done electronically and physical presence is not required; saving of time, money, resources, as the taxpayer would not be required to commute, travel etc; chances of harassment will be minimal and proof of the entire proceedings in digital form, ease of quality control and retrieval of information, the RRMC recommendation added.
