NBR seeks wealth info of its staff

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has sought information on movable and immovable assets of all employees of its three departments – customs, VAT, and income tax.

As part of implementing a public administration ministry order given last year, all NBR employees on January 25, 2022, were asked to submit their asset information to their respective board administration departments urgently.

In a letter on January 25, the NBR board administration sought the asset information of all employees as per provisions 11, 12, and 13 of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules 1979.

An official of the NBR board administration told The Business Post all employees of the revenue board having taxable income usually submit their tax returns every year that contain all the information about their assets.

“Even after that, if the head of the office wants, officers and other employees are obliged to provide their asset information.”

He also said the NBR was just implementing last year’s public administration ministry order and the process had been delayed due to various problems, including the coronavirus pandemic.

“Everyone who makes, or does not make, taxable income has to submit their asset statements.”

Sources said there are 22,123 posts at the NBR, including its three departments, at present, but about 13,000 have been filled. The public administration ministry sent letters to all the ministries, secretariats, and departments on June 24 last year to collect information on the assets of all employees.

There is a provision for government employees that requires them to report their assets in December every five years, but it was not enforced.

The provision says if anyone disobeys it, the authorities concerned can take departmental action against them.