FBR links staff performance allowance with tax returns filing

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday made it mandatory for the officials of Pakistan Customs Service and Inland Revenue Service to file income tax returns and asset declarations for availing of the performance allowance.
The performance allowance is equivalent to 100 percent of the basic salary.
In this regard, the FBR issued guidelines for the performance allowance 2015 and said the employees’ performance allowance would be withdrawn for three months, if they failed to file annual declaration of assets and liabilities.
The performance allowance is an additional full salary allowed to the tax officials, which was recommended under the World Bank-assisted tax reform programme to eliminate corruption and enhance working of the tax officials.
In the fresh guidelines, the FBR made selection criteria for availing of the allowance on the basis of interview for BS-17 and above. However, interview and computer proficiency test has been made compulsory for Staff BS-7 to 16. The lower cadre BS-1-6 would be based on performa evaluation. The FBR said the performance allowance would not be available to officials during their foreign training or studies, but in case of local training the same will be available.
The revenue authority made it clear that the facility would not be available to contract employees.