FAISALABAD, April 20: Chairman Central Board of Revenue (CBR) Abdullah Yousuf has said that audit of the tax returns filed under the self assessment scheme will be conducted after the completion of training of the staff and provision of the basic infrastructure.

Speaking to the members of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Thursday he said that now the time had come both for the government and the private sector to join hands for strengthening the national economy and achieve maximum export targets.

He said that the self assessment scheme had been introduced to provide a hassle free system and atmosphere to businessmen and enhance the basic tax net of the country. There was absolutely no justification in the tax procedures to eliminate the audit system for all times to come and audit would be started at an appropriate time, he added.

The CBR chairman said that the tax policies would be implemented after taking the stakeholders into confidence and the officials including himself would visit the chambers and trade associations to discuss their budget proposals.

He pointed out that the availability of the trained and skilled manpower had become a challenge for the industries. The government was planning to arrange services of high-profile consultants and training personnel for the industrial units so that they could modernise their units and train their staff.

Abdulla Yousuf said that the efforts should be made to dispel the impression that there would be complications for the business firms and individuals if they filed tax returns. The government officials and the entrepreneurs should launch awareness campaigns in their respective fields to expand the tax net.

He said that the government was trying its best to stabilize the GDP-tax rate as it was much better in countries like India, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The sales tax, customs and income tax procedural formalities had been simplified during the last couple of years by introducing the most modern system through the on-line network.

He revealed that the average clearance time under the CARE system at the ports was now seven hours, which took several days in the past. The authorities were struggling to reduce the average time to four hours, he added.

Talking about the increasing trade deficit Mr Yousuf said that the major factor was the rapid increase in POL prices in the international markets. However, he said that the government was trying its best to resolve the issue.

He said that the CBR reforms were being implemented with full force and this gigantic plan would be completed by 2009 as agreed with the World Bank. 12 Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) would be established and made functional before June 30, 2007, while the Customs reforms would also be completed in the stipulated period, he added.