By Commerce Reporter
LAHORE: It is just a briefing on last year’s i.e. 2024’s overall quantitative performance. During last calendar year ending 31st December, 2024, we received all time high number of complaints at 13,506. Simultaneously, under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Federal Tax Ombudsman, FTO Secretariat, and all Regional Offices disposed of 12,914 complaints, which works out for 95.6% of total complaints. This all time high number of complaints is due to vigorous awareness sessions conducted by the Hon’ble FTO and his Advisors throughout the country. The Chambers of Commerce & Industries of all big cities, Tax Bar Associations, Business Community Associations and Tax law practicing bodies were targeted to disseminate information about the role and functions of FTO organization, which resulted into this colossal number of complaints. As a result of outreach and Awareness Sessions, a record number of complaints and decisions of Hon’ble FTO were rolled out. Resultantly, grievances of thousands of Complainants were redressed.
2. A comparative Account for last ten years’ institution of complaints is as given in Annexure-A.
3. During the year under consideration, in addition to regular complaints, the Hon’ble FTO also encouraged poor and less privileged Complainants for informal resolution of their grievances. As such we received 1540 informal complaints and the same were resolved. In addition to that we received 143 reference cases which were also disposed of. The total number of Own Motion initiatives stood at 32 through which relief was granted to large number of Complainants/individuals.
4. Since FTO organization is a relief oriented entity therefore this Secretariat provided relief to low paid employees by holding proper taxation of the same. In addition, thousands of Folk Artists were provided relief by ameliorating the situation in the then ongoing withholding taxes. Similarly, relief on account of tax rebate to teachers, in the relevant year, were also provided in a large number of cases.
