Month: August 2019

  • Rupee makes significant gain of Re1 against dollar in early trade

    Rupee makes significant gain of Re1 against dollar in early trade

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee witnessed massive recovery of Re1 against dollar in early trade on Friday, dealers said.

    The dollar is being traded at Rs157.24 in early trade on Friday as compared with last day’s closing of Rs158.24 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    Currency experts said that positive economic indicators and sharp recovery in the stock exchange boosted the confidence of the investors.

    Besides, contraction in current account deficit also helped the rupee to recover against the greenback.

    The rupee witnessed sharp decline against the dollar in the past two years. However, for the last few days the local unit was making recovery gradually.

  • Withholding Tax Card 2019/2020: non-ATL to pay 40pc on foreign produced commercials

    Withholding Tax Card 2019/2020: non-ATL to pay 40pc on foreign produced commercials

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that up to 40 percent income tax shall be collected from a person not on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) in case of receiving payment as non-resident person against foreign produced commercials.

    According to Withholding Tax Card for tax year 2019/2020 issued by the FBR, the tax shall be deducted on payment for foreign produced commercials under Section 152A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    Every person responsible for making payment to a non-resident person shall collect withholding tax at the time of payment from non-resident person.

    The FBR said that tax to be deducted from non-resident while making payments for foreign produced commercial for advertisement on any television channel or any other media at the rate of 20 percent of the gross amount.

    For person not appearing in the ATL, the applicable tax rate is to be increased by 100 percent i.e. 40 percent of the gross amount. The deducted amount shall be final tax liability.

    The FBR also issued withholding tax rates on payments to non-residents under Section 152 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    The FBR said that every person shall deduct tax while making payments for royalties and fee for technical payments to resident under Section 152(1) of the Ordinance at the rate of 15 percent of the gross amount.

    Every person shall deduct withholding tax rate under Section 152(1A) from:

    a) Contract or sub-contract under a construction, assembly or installation project in Pakistan including a contract for the supply of supervisory activities relating to such project.

    b) Any other contract for construction or services rendered relating there to.

    c) Contract for advertisement services rendered by TV Satellite Channels.

    The tax rate shall be 7 percent of the gross amount.

    In case person is not appearing on the ATL, the applicable tax rate is to be increased by 100 percent i.e. 14 percent of the gross amount.

    Under Section 152(1AA) the tax will be deducted from non-resident on any payment of insurance premium or re-insurance to non-resident person the tax shall be deducted at 5 percent of the gross amount.

    Under Section 152(1AAA), the tax will be deducted at 10 percent of the gross amount on payments for advertisement services from non-resident person relaying from outside Pakistan.

    In case persons not appearing on ATL, the applicable tax rate is to be increased by 100 percent i.e. 20 percent of the gross amount.

    The FBR said that tax shall be deducted on remittance outside Pakistan, of fee for off-shore digital services, chargeable to tax u/s 6, to a non-resident person on behalf of any resident or a permanent establishment of a non-resident in Pakistan.

    The FBR said that banking company or financial institution shall collect five percent of the gross amount from non-resident at the time the amount is actually paid.

    In case persons not appearing in the ATL, the applicable tax rate is to be increased by 100 percent i.e. 10 percent of the gross amount.

    Under Section 152(2), the tax deduction on payment to non-resident, no otherwise specified the tax rate shall be 20 percent of the gross amount. The tax shall be adjustable.

    Under Section 152(2A), every prescribed person making payment to a prescribed person making payment to a permanent establishment of non-resident for

    (a) sale of goods

    (i) in case of a company the tax rate shall be four percent of the gross amount.

    (ii) Other than company cases the tax rate shall be 4.5 percent of the gross amount.

    Persons not appearing on ATL the applicable tax rate is to be increased by 100 percent i.e.

    (i) in case of a company the tax rate shall be 8 percent.

    (ii) other than company cases the tax rate shall be 9 percent.

    (b) Rendering /providing of services the tax rate shall be two percent.

    In the case of Transport service:

    (i) in case of a company : 8 percent

    (ii) Other than company cases: 10 percent

    (c) Execution of a contract other than a contract for sale of goods or providing/ rendering of services.

    (i) In case of sports persons: 10 percent

    (ii) Other than sports persons: 7 percent

  • FBR extends date of sales tax, FED payment

    FBR extends date of sales tax, FED payment

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday extended the last date for sales tax and federal excise duty (FED) payment for the month of July 2019 up to August 23, 2019.

    The FBR in an office order informed all Chief Commissioners Inland Revenue of Large Taxpayers Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) regarding extension in the date for submission of sales tax and FED return for the tax period of July 2019.

    The FBR said that the date of payment of sales tax and FED for the tax period July 2019, which was due on August 10, 2019 and extended up to August 21, 2019, has been further extended up to August 23, 2019.

  • FBR directs IR, Customs offices to ensure taxpayer friendly environment

    FBR directs IR, Customs offices to ensure taxpayer friendly environment

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday directed all offices of Inland Revenue and Pakistan Customs to ensure a clean and friendly environment in the offices across the country.

    The FBR directed that all the offices of Inland Revenue and Pakistan Customs should maintain the highest level of cleanliness.

    Sitting areas for visitors should be clean and well lit. Janitorial staff should be directed to maintain the cleanliness of offices and washrooms for officers, staff and visitors.

    Parking space for officers should be clearly market and there should be reserved parking space for visiting taxpayers, tax practitioners, lawyers, chartered accountants and other visitors. The concerned officers should carry out periodic inspection of their respective premises and take necessary steps to ensure a clean working environment.

    As FBR and its field formations receive a very large number of visitors on a daily basis, the concerned staff should extend necessary courtesy and respect to visiting taxpayers.

    All sitting areas specified for visitors should have ample seating arrangements with availability of clean drinking water.

    Keeping in view the overall security situation, each field office must chalk out a detailed security plan which must be strictly adhered.

    The FBR further said that all security cameras should be made operational and video feed must be constantly monitored.

    The FBR also directed the offices to contribute towards tree plantation campaign of the government by planting trees in their offices and residential colonies. The respective staff be directed to ensure maintenance and care of the green areas.

    The FBR would conduct spot visit of field offices to verify compliance of the directions.

  • FBR notifies transfers, postings of IRS BS-19-20 officers

    FBR notifies transfers, postings of IRS BS-19-20 officers

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday notified transfers and postings of BS-19-20 officers of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) with immediate effect until further orders.

    The FBR notified transfers and postings of the following officers:

    01. Imtiaz Ahmed (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been transferred and posted as Chief, Federal Board of Revenue (Hq), Islamabad from the post of Chief Coordinator, Chief Coordinator Computer Wing (Income Tax), Islamabad.

    02. Sajidullah Siddiqui (Inland Revenue Service/BS-20) has been posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue Inland Revenue (Appeals-II), Karachi. He was awaiting for posting.

    03. Naeem Babar (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Lyall Pur Zone) Regional Tax Office, Faisalabad from the post of Additional Commissioner, Regional Tax Office II, Lahore.

    04. Rehan Safdar (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (WHT) Regional Tax Office, Faisalabad from the post of Additional Commissioner, Large Taxpayers Unit, Lahore.

    05. Abdul Waheed Khan (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (East Zone-II) Regional Tax Office, Islamabad. He is also assigned the “Additional Charge” of the post of Commissioner-IR (OPS) (West Zone-I), RTO, Islamabad until further orders. From the post of Additional Director, Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue), Islamabad.

    06. Zulfiqar Ali Memon (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Zone-IV) Large Taxpayers Unit, Karachi from the post of Additional Commissioner, Large Taxpayers Unit, Karachi.

    07. Dr. Razi-ur-Rehman Khan (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (Zone-I) Corporate Regional Tax Office, Lahore from the post of Additional Commissioner, Corporate Regional Tax Office, Lahore.

    08. Syed Bahadur Ali (Inland Revenue Service/BS-19) has been transferred and posted as Commissioner Inland Revenue (OPS) (WHT) Regional Tax Office, Multan from the post of Additional Commissioner, (Inland Revenue Range) Regional Tax Office, Multan.

    The FBR said that the Officers who are drawing performance allowance prior to issuance of this notification shall continue to draw this allowance on the new place of posting.

  • Foreign exchange reserves increase by $27 million to $15.604 billion

    Foreign exchange reserves increase by $27 million to $15.604 billion

    KARACHI: The liquid foreign exchange reserves of the country have increased by $27 million to $15.604 billion by week ended August 17, 2019 as compared with $15.577 billion a week ago, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.

    The official reserves held by SBP fell by $26 million to $8.238 billion by week ended August 17, 2019 as compared with $8.264 billion week ago.

    The central bank said that its official reserves were declined due to external debt servicing and other official payments.

    The foreign exchange reserves held by commercial banks have increased by $53 million to $7.366 billion from $7.313 billion.

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  • Foreign direct investment declines by 59 percent in July

    Foreign direct investment declines by 59 percent in July

    KARACHI: The net inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) has declined by 59 percent in the month of July 2019, according to data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday.

    The FDI declined to $73 million in July 2019 as compared with $178.9 million in the same month of the last year.

    The inflows under FDI declined to $168.4 million in the first month of current fiscal year as compared with $264.6 million in the corresponding month of the last fiscal year. The outflows were at $95 million as compared with $85.6 million.

    The total foreign private investment witnessed decline of 21.6 percent to $107.2 million during the month under review as compared with $136.8 million in July 2018.

    The inflow of portfolio investment in capital market increased by 180 percent to $34 million in July 2019 as compared with outflow of $42 million in the same month of the last year.

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  • Rupee gains 34 paisas on improved investors’ sentiments

    Rupee gains 34 paisas on improved investors’ sentiments

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee gained 34 paisas against dollar on Thursday owing to improved confidence of investors on the country’s capital market and narrowed current account deficit.

    The rupee ended Rs158.24 to the dollar from previous day’s closing of Rs158.58 in interbank foreign exchange market.

    Currency experts said that the improved sentiments of investors in the stock market also impacted the currency market.

    Besides, the narrowed current account deficit in July 2019 also helped the rupee to improve levels.

    The foreign currency market was opened in the range of Rs 158.40 and Rs158.50. The market recorded day high of Rs158.40 and low of Rs158.15 and closed at Rs158.24.

    The exchange rate in open market also witnessed appreciation of the local unit. The buying and selling of dollar was recorded at Rs158.20/Rs158.70 from previous day’s close of Rs158.50/Rs159.00 in cash ready market.

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  • Stock market sees bullish run for fourth consecutive day

    Stock market sees bullish run for fourth consecutive day

    KARACHI: The stock market witnessed bullish run for the fourth consecutive day and gained 912 points on Thursday.

    The benchmark KSE-100 index of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed at 31,884 points as against 30,973 points showing an increase of 912 points.

    The market cumulatively gained 3,121 points during last four sessions.

    Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said that for the fourth consecutive session, market went up.

    This time with a jump of 912 points, they said.

    Yesterday’s PIB auction, especially 10Y bond, helped investors take a view on Policy rate, which seems mild and hinting that chances of a rate cut are improving.

    Buying was observed across the board, and major contribution came from Banks, E&P and Power sector scrips.

    Technology sector led the volumes with 41.8 million shares, followed by Cement (34.4 million) and Banks (32.8 million).

    Scrip wise activity shows WTL topping the chart with 22.5 million shares, followed by KEL (17.9 million) and BOP (14.8 million).

    BOP got traction from better result expectation, which is due to be announced tomorrow. Similarly, POL hit upper circuit on account of discovery in Makori field.

    Sectors contributing to the performance include E&P (+212 points), Banks (+181 points), Fertilizer (+92 points), Cement (+86 points), and Power (+81 points).

    Volumes almost doubled from 134.5 million shares to 261.6 million shares (+94 percent DoD). Average traded value also increased by 42 percent to reach US$ 48.1 million as against US$ 33.8 million.

    Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include WTL, KEL, BOP, UNITY and TRG, which formed 31 percent of total volumes.

    Stocks that contributed positively include OGDC (+81 points), PPL (+61 points), ENGRO (+58 points), POL (+52 points) and HUBC (+50 points). Stocks that contributed negatively include DAWH (-6 points), ATLH (-2 points), NCPL (-1 point), ICI (-1 point) and SHEL (-0 point).

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  • Pakistan Oilfields announces large oil, gas discovery in Kohat

    Pakistan Oilfields announces large oil, gas discovery in Kohat

    KARACHI: Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) on Thursday announced discovery of large deposits of oil and gas at TAL Block, Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    According to an information received from POL to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the operator of TAL Block, hydrocarbons had been encountered in Development Well Makori Deep-02, which had been drilled and was currently under testing phase.

    As a result of Drill Stem Test (DST) conducted at the well to test the potential of Lockhart formation, the well has tested 1,844 barrels per day of oil and 18.25 MMscf of gas per day at 32/64” fixed choke size at the flowing wellhead pressure 3,767 psi.

    Production from the well is expected to start from December 2019, according to the announcement.

    A DST is a procedure for isolating the testing the surrounding geological formations through the drill stem. The test is a measurement of pressure behaviour at the drill stem is a way to obtain important fluid sampling information and to establish the probability of commercial production.

    Accordingly it should be borne in mind that actual production may differ significantly from the test result, it added.

    TAL Block (3370-3) petroleum exploration license was awarded on Feb 11, 1999 to MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Co.B.V. along with Oil and Gas Development Company limited (OGDCL) Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Government Holdings Private Limited (GHPL) over an area of 4643.48 SQ KM. Subsequently, consortium was joined by Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) on October 8, 2001.

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