KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated development of ‘Declaration Structure’, which would eliminate mis-declaration and under-invoicing as well as the doors of corruption would be closed.

According to details available with Customnews.pk, Chairman FBR Tariq Bajwa has assigned this task to Collector Appraisement East Manzoor Memon with the directives to be completed before the fiscal year end.

Manzoor Memon has distributed the respective responsibilities among Additional collectors and Deputy Collectors and they have been advised to furnish their report in this regard by March 15, 2015.

It may be mentioned here that there are 99 chapters of Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) containing long lists of PCT headings.

According to the details of the ‘Declaration Structure’ when a GD will be filed through WeBOC, the system would automatically ask for requirements relating to the claimed PCT so that mis-declaration and under-invoicing could be detected at a preliminary stage.

Whenever a GD will be filed the system would ask over a dozen questions pertaining to the claimed PCT, which need to be responded for the clearance of the GD.

This development hints that assessment/appraisement is planned to be completely automated so that corruption could be eliminated.

Retired Deputy Collector Javed Butt carried on an exercise in this regard in 2004, now the similar module is being upgraded.

It is likely that the role of appraising staff will be ended, it may be mentioned here that the role of Principal Appraiser at examination stage has already been ended while Principal Appraisers can only undertake second review of the assessment.

It may be mentioned here that despite severe requirement, new inductions are not being made in appraisement, which hints that their role would be completely ended going forward.