Mohsin Siddiqui (Chief Reporter) 

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a critical alert to Customs field formations, urging vigilance against the deliberate misuse of unique user identifiers such as CNICs/NTNs by non-exporters. This misuse occurs during the filing of goods declarations (GDs) by exporters through the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) and web-based Customs clearance system (WeBoc).

The directive from the FBR follows instructions from the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), emphasizing the need for immediate action. Complaints regarding fake export GDs filed against individuals’ names have been repeatedly reported to FBR, PRAL, and Customs Intelligence and Investigation, yet no substantial action has been taken.

The FTO’s order highlights the intentional misuse of the complainant’s NTN by a courier company, despite notifications to relevant departments. Failure to rectify such misuse constitutes maladministration by the department.

In response, the FTO has mandated the FBR to issue an alert to all Customs field formations, instructing them to identify and rectify instances of intentional misuse of unique user identifiers within 30 days. Additionally, the FBR is directed to blacklist certain entities and initiate legal proceedings against them within 15 days.

Furthermore, the FTO has urged the concerned authorities to resolve the complainant’s issues promptly, enabling them to file sales tax returns affected by the misuse of CNIC and NTN.