The competency test of FBR officers posted in Karachi, the results revealed professional weaknesses

The Inland Revenue Wing of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revealed worrisome weaknesses in the results of the examinations conducted to test the professional competence of sales tax and income tax officers. According to the results, the professional skills of many officers posted in Karachi did not meet the required standards.

This exam was conducted to test the competency of Inland Revenue Officers posted in Karachi on the instructions of Chairman FBR. According to the ongoing training review report in this regard, officers from grades 17 to 19 participated in the test. 150 sales tax and 143 income tax officers appeared for the exam. Both examinations were open-book, in which officers had to find and explain errors in draft orders.

According to the report, none of the officers could reach the acceptable 60% mark in the sales tax exam, while only 4 officers scored 60% or more in the income tax. The average score of officers in sales tax stood at 26.4 percent, while the success ratio in income tax was recorded at 33.3 percent. 47 sales tax and 16 income tax officers scored less than 20%.

A review of decision-making capacity also revealed poor performance. Out of 150 sales tax officers, only 15 met the criteria to issue a decision with their signature. Similarly, out of 143 Income Tax officers, only 14 were capable of making a correct decision. Out of 139 officers who took the combined income tax and sales tax competency test, only 4 met the criteria for correct decision making.

In terms of examination of cases and orders prepared by other officers, the results were not encouraging either. In sales tax only 21 officers were found to be able to effectively review the legal aspects of a case prepared by another officer, while in income tax the number was 28.