• FTO receives 13,000 complaints, up from 2,000 in 2024.
• FBR pressures field offices, pushes aggressive revenue collection.
• Revenue targets mismatch growth, spark more taxpayer complaints.

ISLAMABAD: Despite the widely publicised Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Transformation Plan, reports of maladministration within the tax system have skyrocketed by an alarming 550% during the first four months of 2025 (January to April), The News reported on Sunday.

The complaints primarily highlight alleged malpractices within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), including highhandedness, illegal notices, arbitrary account attachments, fake/flying invoices and sales tax account hacking, among other procedural violations.

Data reveals that the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) received 13,000 complaints in the first four months of 2025, compared to just 2,000 during the same period in 2024. Historically, the FTO averaged around 2,000 complaints every four months, with annual complaints previously hovering around 2,500.

While the FTO has resolved over 6,000 complaints, officials remain alarmed by the sudden influx.

When approached, FBR officials defended the situation, citing the immense pressure to meet an ambitious annual tax target of Rs12,970 billion — later adjusted to Rs12,332 billion after the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The FBR’s top management has reportedly pushed field offices hard to meet monthly and quarterly targets, leading to aggressive revenue collection measures.

Under the IMF conditions, the FBR is also striving to achieve a tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.6%, despite shrinking growth in key revenue-generating sectors.

This mismatch between nominal growth and revenue demands is expected to persist, necessitating an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to prevent further escalation in complaints against the FBR’s maladministration in the coming months.