Day: March 29, 2019

  • FBR sets up DGBTB for taking action against tax evaders

    FBR sets up DGBTB for taking action against tax evaders

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday established a new directorate for taking action against tax evaders.

    The FBR notified to create Directorate General of Broadening of Tax Base (DGBTB) to bring potential taxpayers into tax net.

    The new directorate, which was already made part of the statute, will work on the available data of persons and companies those were not into the tax net.

    The directorate will have powers to identify new taxpayers, issue notice and to initiate legal action.

    The FBR currently reportedly has huge data of persons having taxable income but not on the tax roll. In the existing set up the BTB action was taken as per routine matter.

    The new directorate will also have jurisdiction over benami cases and take action as per law.

    The FBR recently notified rules for benami laws which was approved by the National Assembly in January 2017. The FBR has transferred the cases of benami properties to BTB wing to initiate legal action against tax evaders.

  • Asad Umar chairs NFC meeting

    Asad Umar chairs NFC meeting

    ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Asad Umar on Friday chaired the 5th meeting of the 9th National Finance Commission (NFC) that was held in at Lahore.

    The six sub-groups, formulated during the first meeting in February, gave presentation on various aspects of resources distribution as per the terms of reference assigned to the groups.

    The main focus of all sub-groups’ deliberations was transparency, harmonization and sharing of data.

    The members of the Commission appreciated the work done by the six sub-groups in their first meetings.

    It was agreed that the sub-groups would continue their deliberations and present their reports in the subsequent meetings.

    The Chairman suggested that deliberations should also include incentives for poverty alleviation and social sector spending.

    The representative of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa proposed a framework for NFC deliberations aiming at equalizing fiscal resources across federating units, equal access to public services for all citizens of Pakistan and expenditure efficiency at all levels of the federation.

    All members agreed on the framework and lauded the efforts of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in this regard.

    The Chairman emphasized the importance of a well deliberated and consensus based National Finance Commission Award and said that all federating units shared a huge responsibility in that regard.

    The meeting agreed to make efforts to finalize the NFC Award by December 31, 2019. It was also agreed to hold the next meeting, before end of April, 2019, which would focus on FATA and the taxation aspects of ease of doing business.

    The Chairman reiterated that provincial governments will be engaged in the fiscal related discussion with the IMF.

    He also suggested that each federating unit should nominate a focal person for data sharing to facilitate the working sub-groups.

    He also stressed for strengthening NFC Secretariat and said that necessary measures would be taken in that regard.

    Technical members from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa volunteered to submit a proposal in this regard.

  • SBP increases policy rate by 50bps to 10.75 percent

    SBP increases policy rate by 50bps to 10.75 percent

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday increased key policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.75 percent for next two months effective from April 01, 2019.

    (more…)
  • Equity market gains 96 points in range bound trading

    Equity market gains 96 points in range bound trading

    KARACHI: The equity market ended with 96 points gain on Friday in a range bound trading activity.

    The benchmark KSE-100 index of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed at 38,649 points as against 38,553 points showing an increase of 96 points.

    Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said the market performed range bound between -69 points and +180 points and did not oscillate much.

    Most volume (for the third consecutive session) was observed in UNITY rights of 25 million shares as against total market volume of 138 million (18 percent).

    Cement sector performed well on the release of cement dispatch data that showed growth in sales volume against expectation, however, selling pressure kept the price growth in check. Banks, Cement and Power sector led the volumes table (other than Vanaspati), which was mainly contributed by BOP, FCCL and KEL respectively.

    Sectors contributing to the performance include O&GMCs (+34 points), Cement (+34 points), Fertilizer (+21 points), Textile (+18 points), Banks (+17 points), Power (-32 points).

    Volumes increased slightly to 137.7 million shares as against 132.2 million shares (+4 percent DoD).

    Average traded value also increased by 18 percent to reach US$ 36.9 million as against US$ 31.3 million.

    Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include UNITYR1, BOP, KEL, ASL and FCCL, which formed 38 percent of total volumes.

    Stocks that contributed positively include OGDC (+18 points), UBL (+18 points), ENGRO (+17 points), LUCK (+15 points), and SNGP (+13 points). Stocks that contributed negatively include HUBC (-36 points), HBL (-33 points), PSEL (-25 points), PPL (-10 points) and FFBL (-5 points).

  • Rupee sheds 49 paisas against dollar

    Rupee sheds 49 paisas against dollar

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee fell sharply by 49 against the US dollar on Friday owing to higher demand for import and corporate payments.

    The rupee ended Rs140.78 to the dollar from previous day’s close of Rs140.29 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The interbank foreign market was initiated in the range of Rs140.60 and Rs140.80.

    The market recorded day high of Rs140.80 and low of Rs140.78 and closed at Rs140.78.

    The rupee also fell by 80 paisas in the open market against dollar.

    The buying and selling of dollar was recorded at Rs141.30/Rs141.80 from previous day’s closing of Rs140.50/Rs141.00 in cash ready market.

  • Rupee falls by 41 paisas against dollar in early trade

    Rupee falls by 41 paisas against dollar in early trade

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee witnessed massive fall of 41 paisas against US dollar in early trade on Friday.

    The dollar is being traded at Rs140.70 in Interbank Foreign Exchange Market. The foreign currency market ended yesterday at Rs140.29 to the dollar.

    Currency experts said the higher demand for import and corporate demand escalated the rupee value.

    The experts said that the State Bank of Pakistan is announcing monetary policy today. This announcement also pressurized the local currency.

  • Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Income from pension funds tax exempted

    Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Income from pension funds tax exempted

    KARACHI: The government has allowed tax exemption to the income derived by pensioners invested in various schemes, including pension funds.

    The Second Schedule of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 allowed tax exemption to the income derived by pensioners.

    The following exemptions are available to the pensioners:

    Any payment from a provident fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925 applies.

    The accumulated balance due and becoming payable to an employee participating in a recognized provident fund.

    The accumulated balance up to 50 percent received from the voluntary pension system offered by a pension fund manager under the Voluntary Pension System Rules, 2005 at the time of eligible person’s-

    (a) retirement; or

    (b) disability rendering him unable to work.

    The amounts received as monthly installment from an income payment plan invested out of the accumulated balance of an individual pension accounts with a pension fund manager or an approved annuity plan or another individual pension account of eligible person or the survivors pension account maintained with any other pension fund manager as specified in the Voluntary Pension System Rules 2005 shall be exempt from tax provided accumulated balance is invested for a period of ten years:

    Provided that where any amount is exempted under this clause and subsequently it is discovered, on the basis of documents or otherwise, by the Commissioner that any of the conditions specified in this clause were not fulfilled, the exemption originally allowed shall be deemed to have been wrongly allowed and the Commissioner may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, re-compute the tax payable by the taxpayer for the relevant years and the provisions of this Ordinance shall, so far as may be, apply accordingly.

    Any withdrawal of accumulated balance from approved pension fund that represent the transfer of balance of approved provident fund to the said approved pension fund under the Voluntary Pension System Rules , 2005.

    Any benevolent grant paid from the Benevolent Fund to the employees or members of their families in accordance with the provisions of the Central Employee Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Act, 1969.

    Any payment from an approved superannuation fund made on the death of a beneficiary or in lieu of or in commutation of any annuity, or by way of refund of contribution on the death of a beneficiary.

    Any income of a person representing the sums received by him as a worker from out of the Workers Participation Fund established under the Companies Profits (Workers Participation) Act, 1968.

  • KTBA elects Rehan Siddiqui as president for 2019-2020

    KTBA elects Rehan Siddiqui as president for 2019-2020

    KARACHI: Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) in the 62nd Annual General Meeting held on Thursday announced Muhammad Rehan Siddiqui as president of the association of the term 2019-2020.

    The AGM announced following office bearers and executive committee after the election 2019:

    Office Bearers:

    Muhammad Rehan Siddiqui, President

    Syed Hassan Naeem, Vice President

    Syed Zafar Ahmed, General Secretary

    Ammar Ather Saeed, Joint Secretary

    Muhammad Mustafa Raheem, Librarian

    Executive Committee Member:

    Arshad Ali Siddiqui

    Arshad Mahmood

    Ghulam Rabbani

    Iqbal Ahmad Abdan

    Irfan Ghafoor

    Khalid Mahmood Siddiqui

    Muhammad Mehmood Bikiya

    Syed Faiq Raza Rizvi

  • FBR temporarily halts raids on tax evaders

    FBR temporarily halts raids on tax evaders

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has temporarily halted raids on tax evaders on assurance of business community.

    The FBR has given an opportunity to non-compliant taxpayers to declare their income and assets by filing annual returns up to March 31.

    At a media briefing on Thursday, Member Inland Revenue (Poilcy) Doctor Hamid Ateeq Sarwar and Member Inland Revenue (Operations) said that the FBR stopped the recovery campaign for fifteen days.

    The members said that the raids have been suspended as a good gesture on the request of the business community.

    Chambers and trade bodies have assured their cooperation in recovery of due amount of taxes from business community.

    Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and other business community had raised the issue of raids by tax offices during recent visit of FBR chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan to Karachi.

    Member IR Operations Seema Shakil confirmed the issuance of notice to former president Asif Ali Zardari. She said that relevant office in Karachi which is dealing the case.