ngsters receive awards 6:03 AM PST ‘Tax lawyers can facilitate govt revenue collection’

Chaudhry deplored the fact that experienced tax lawyers were not consulted in the formulation of government decisions or enacting tax laws.

LAHORE: Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) President Zahid Attique Chaudhry has said that tax lawyers are best medium for revenue collection, and the enforcement of an effective tax system is not possible without taking the tax lawyers’ community in confidence.

He alleged that the government had a discriminatory attitude towards tax lawyers, who help it collect 90% of all revenues.

He was talking to journalists at the Regional Tax Office (RTO) here Wednesday. He complained that tax lawyers were being ignored and no incentive was being extended to the community and the tax bar.

Chaudhry deplored the fact that experienced tax lawyers were not consulted in the formulation of government decisions or enacting tax laws. He said that a representative body had recorded their protest with the FBR Chairman in this regard.

He said that the registration process for new taxpayers is complicated and needs to be made easy and simple. He said that taxpayers were also facing lot of other hardships, including refunds and unjustifiable use of powers by tax officers.

To a question about his agenda as LTBA President, Zahid said that he wishes to utilise all his energies to raise issues being faced by the tax lawyers at appropriate forums; to conduct weekly capacity building programmes for new tax lawyers; and arrange seminars on important topics and issues.

He said that he will be working on different projects aimed at the welfare of tax lawyers and their families, including provision of health and education facilities. He also revealed that the LTBA will be holding an international tax conference this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2012.