It is not understood as to why it has become mandatory to lodge an income tax refund request separately even if the concerned filer has already filed an income tax return through electronic filing. It is also mandatory to claim an income tax refund within a specific period otherwise the claim will not be entertained and stand lapsed. Since every taxpayer is not familiar with the filing procedure and especially how to lodge a refund claim, they have no option but to acquire the services of a tax consultant who tend to charge exorbitant rates.
Instead the income tax refund cases should be processed by the FBR itself without asking the taxpayer to lodge a separate claim. Instead, the FBR should itself generate refund claims and all claims should preferably be settled before the next fiscal year.
Khawaja Tajammul Hussain
Karachi