STARR system
FBR’s automation process of refund of Sales Tax started in 2002. Through introduction of STARR system a semi-automated system. Refund claimants would file refund claims through Refund Claims Preparatory System (RCPS). Data of refunds taken to field offices on CDs where the refund claims sanctioned at field level.
ERS System
In the year 2011, ERS introduced for processing of refund claims of manufacturers-cum-exporters. Online applications may be submitted for refund claims. STARR system continued for processing of refund claims for other sectors.
FASTER system
After the rollback of zero rating, FASTER introduced with effect from July, 2019 for processing of refund claims of ex-zero rated exporters at a fast pace of 72 hours. FASTER system faced some issues, refund claimants faced problems like:
- many of the cases stuck up at pre-processing stage,
- missing amount of refunds,
- no intimation about the status of refund
- delays in processing and sanctioning of refunds.
- New refund system for refund claimants
- erroneous filing of refund claims through Annex-H was rampant.
FBR along with PRAL in July, 2020 started the task of overhauling the FASTER system to make it fault-free and transparent with end-to-end fully automated.
FASTER Plus System
Due to FASTER Plus System, Sales Tax refund claims of exporters which stuck up at pre-processing stage now may apply again after removing shortcomings. The step allowed refunds to thousands of refund claimants to get their long stuck up refunds.
Now No refund claim now stuck up at pre-processing stage due to entry-gate check points. Another feature of these checks is that if any refund claimant files his refund claim with errors, system would guide it in easy non-technical language.
A new dashboard activated at FBR e-portal to view the stage-wise update regarding refund claims without contacting any officials of FBR or PRAL.
Mobile app to enable a Sales Tax Refund claimant to view the status of refund claim at each stage of processing has been made part of FASTER Plus System.
You may take updation about refund status by sending a SMS at 9966 through registered mobile of the refund claimant.
1 Comment