Year: 2019

  • Withholding tax rates on purchase, registration of motor vehicle for Tax Year 2019

    Withholding tax rates on purchase, registration of motor vehicle for Tax Year 2019

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued updated withholding tax rates on purchase and registration of motor vehicles.

    The withholding tax rates have been updated through Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act, 2019 as on March 09, 2019.
    The withholding tax rate on registration of motor vehicle to be collected by excise and taxation department of provincial government under Sub-Section 1 of Section 231B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:
     

    Registration of Motor VehicleFilerNon-Filer
    Up to 850CCRs7,500Rs15,000
    851CC to 1000CCRs15,000Rs37,500
    1001CC to 1300CCRs25,000Rs60,000
    1301CC to 1600CCRs50,000Rs150,000
    1601CC to 1800CCRs75,000Rs225,000
    1801CC to 2000CCRs100,000Rs300,000
    2001CC to 2500CCRs150,000Rs450,000
    2501CC to 3000CCRs200,000Rs600,000
    Above 3000CCRs250,000Rs675,000

     
    Every leasing company or a scheduled bank or a non-banking financial institution or an investment bank or a modaraba or a development finance institution, whether shariah compliant or under conventional mode, at the time of leasing of a motor vehicle to a non-filer, either through ijara or otherwise, shall collect advance tax at the rate of four per cent of the value of the motor vehicle under Sub-Section 1A of Section 231B of Income Tax Ordinance.

    Every motor vehicle registering authority of Excise and Taxation Department shall collect advance tax at the time of transfer of registration or ownership of a private motor vehicle, at the following rates under Sub-Section 2 Section 231B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:
     

    Engine CapacityTax for FilerTax for Non-Filer
    Up to 850CCRs 0Rs5,000
    851CC to 1000CCRs5,000Rs15,000
    1001CC to 1300CCRs7,500Rs25,000
    1301CC to 1600CCRs12,500Rs65,000
    1601CC to 1800CCRs18,750Rs100,000
    1801CC to 2000CCRs25,000Rs135,000
    2001CC to 2500CCRs37,500Rs200,000
    2501CC to 3000CCRs50,000Rs270,000
    Above 3000CCRs62,500Rs300,000

     
    Provided that no collection of advance tax under this sub-section shall be made on transfer of vehicle after five year from the date of first registration in Pakistan.

    Every manufacturer of a motor vehicle shall collect, at the time of sale of a motor car or jeep, advance tax at the following rates under Sub-Section 3 of Section 231B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 from the person to whom such sale is made:
     

    Engine CapacityTax for FilerTax for Non-filer
    Up to 850CCRs7,500Rs15,000
    851CC to 1000CCRs15,000Rs37,500
    1001CC to 1300CCRs25,000Rs60,000
    1301CC to 1600CCRs50,000Rs150,000
    1601CC to 1800CCRs75,000Rs225,000
    1801CC to 2000CCRs100,000Rs300,000
    2001CC to 2500CCRs150,000Rs450,000
    2501CC to 3000CCRs200,000Rs600,000
    Above 3000CCRs250,000Rs675,000
  • ECC reduces sales tax on petrol by 5 percent

    ECC reduces sales tax on petrol by 5 percent

    Islamabad: The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) has taken a significant step towards providing relief to the masses by approving a reduction of sales tax by five percent.

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  • Total number of registered companies increases to 99,291: SECP

    Total number of registered companies increases to 99,291: SECP

    ISLAMABAD: The total number of registered companies has increased to 99,291 by end of April 2019, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said on Friday.

    The SECP said that it registered 1,460 new companies in April 2019 and the majority of them were registered within four hours.

    As compared to the corresponding month of last financial year, the growth in incorporation of companies is noticed as 29 percent, raising the number of registered companies to 99,291.

    The massive increase in the new incorporations is the result of the SECP’s reforms in the ease of doing business, i.e. introduction of simplified combined process for name reservation and incorporation, one window facility for company incorporation and NTN generation, reduction in fee and enhanced assistance of investors by facilitation wings established by the SECP.

    The SECP has upgraded browser’s compatibility and now in addition to Internet Explorer, other browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge can be used for name reservation and company incorporation processes. Consequently, 95 percent companies were registered online.

    During the month 73 percent companies were registered as private limited companies, while 24 percent were registered as single-member companies.

    Three percent were registered as public unlisted companies, not for profit associations, foreign companies and limited liability partnerships (LLP).

    The trading sector took the lead with the incorporation of 260 companies, services with 174, I.T. with 163, construction with 154, tourism with 81, real estate development with 67, food and beverages with 61, marketing and advertisement with 42, education with 41, corporate agricultural farming with 38, textile with 33.

    Thirty companies belong to engineering, 26 to transport, 25 to healthcare, 21 each to pharmaceuticals, and fuel and energy, 20 to mining and quarrying, 19 to communication, 17 to cosmetics and toiletries, 16 each to auto and allied, and logging, 15 to chemicals, 14 each to broadcasting, and paper and board, 13 to cable and electric goods. Seventy-nine companies were registered in other sectors.

    Foreign investment has been reported in 66 new companies. These companies have foreign investors from Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Jordan, Korea South, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, UAE, UK, Ukraine and the US.

    The highest numbers of companies, i.e. 503 were registered in Islamabad, followed by 406 and 311 in Lahore and Karachi respectively.

    The CROs in Peshawar, Multan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Faisalabad, Quetta, and Sukkur registered, 79, 58, 38, 38, 21 and 6 companies respectively.

  • Immediate reduction up to 75 percent in drug prices  announced

    Immediate reduction up to 75 percent in drug prices announced

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced immediate reduction in prices of drugs up to 75 percent, which were increased since December 2018.

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  • FBR imposes ban on transfers and postings

    FBR imposes ban on transfers and postings

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday imposed ban on postings and transfers with immediate effect till June 30, 2019.

    The FBR said that the revenue collection had entered the last quarter of the current fiscal year and preparation of federal budget for the year 2019/2020 was in full swing.

    Therefore, it has been decided that no further transfer/posting of officers/officials in the field formation of FBR would be made till June 30, 2019.

    The FBR further said that in the cases of hardship or of extreme necessity, the concerned heads of the field formations would be requested to seek board’s prior approval for such transfers/postings.

    The notification has been sent to all heads of field formations of Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service.


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  • Equity market plunges by 425 points on selling

    Equity market plunges by 425 points on selling

    KARACHI: The equity market plunged by 425 points on Friday owing to across the board selling.

    The benchmark KSE-100 index of Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) closed at 36,122 points as against 36,547 points showing a decline of 425 points.

    Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said that the market opened on a negative note with -3 points and a dull outlook.

    After a negligible move of +9 points, the index continued down trodding and by end of first session, the market was down 315 points with a paltry 26 million shares in trading volume.

    Second session saw further attrition and the index slid by a total of 476 points and ended -425 points.

    Selling was observed across the board and contributed by mainly Banks and E&P sectors. Declining international crude prices caused the onslaught of E&P scrips, with OGDC regressing 1.8 percent with a volume of 2.4 million shares. Amongst Cement sector, FCCL and MLCF contributed in top 10 stocks.

    Sectors contributing to the performance include E&P (-128 points), Banks (-95 points), Fertilizer (-60 points), O&GMCs (-30 points), Cement (-24 points).

    Volumes remained low at 64 million shares as against 68 million shares yesterday (-5 percent DoD).

    Average traded value on the contrary increased by 18 percent to reach US$ 20.7 million as against US$ 17.5 million.

    Stocks that contributed significantly to the volumes include UNITY, FCCL, BOP, LOTCHEM and OGDC, which formed 32 percent of total volumes.

    Stocks that contributed positively include BAHL (+13 points), PSMC (+6 points), COLG (+6 points), IGIHL (+5 points), and NATF (+4 points). Stocks that contributed negatively include HBL (-57 points), PPL (-55 points), POL (-37 points), OGDC (-33 points) and ENGRO (-29 points).

  • IMF, Planning Commission discuss CPEC, PSDP

    IMF, Planning Commission discuss CPEC, PSDP

    ISLAMABAD: Ernesto Rigo IMF Mission Chief called on Secretary Planning, Development and Reform Zafar Hasan to discuss Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other aspects of planning including macro-economic policies, a statement said on Friday.

    Project Director Hassan Daud, Chief Macroeconomic Zafar-ul-Hassan and senior officials of the Ministry were also present in the meeting.

    The two sides exchanged program on the growth targets as well as policy adjustments to keep the growth momentum.

    Secretary planning gave a comprehensive overview of the planning process and on CPEC program.

    The two sides shared measures to create growth through both external and internal balance.

    The role of Pakistan Bureau of statistics was also discussed in the meeting.

  • Meezan Bank, CDC sign agreement to launch share custody services

    Meezan Bank, CDC sign agreement to launch share custody services

    KARACHI: Meezan Bank – Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank, and Central Depository Company (CDC) signed an agreement to launch shares custody services, a statement said on Friday.

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  • Banking timings during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak announced

    Banking timings during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak announced

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday announced banking timings during holy month of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak.

    During the ensuing holy month of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak 1440 AH, the following office hours will be observed in the State Bank of Pakistan, which will also be followed by all banks, development finance institutions and microfinance banks:-

    Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm with prayer break from 2:00pm to 2:15pm whereas on Fridays office hours will be from 9:00am to 2:00pm without any break.

    However, it is further advised to observe the following business (banking) hours for public dealing:-

    Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 2:00pm without any break whereas on Fridays business (banking) hours for public dealing will be from 9:00am to 1:00pm without any break.

    After the holy month of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak, the above timings will automatically be reverted to pre Ramadan-ul-Mubarak timings, the SBP said.

  • Banks to remain close on 1st Ramazan

    Banks to remain close on 1st Ramazan

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday said that it will remain closed for public dealing on 1st Ramadan-ul-Mubarak 1440 A.H., which will be observed as Bank Holiday for deduction of Zakat, as usual.

    All banks / development financial institutions / microfinance banks shall, therefore, remain closed for public dealing on 1st Ramadan-ul-Mubarak 1440 A.H.

    However, all employees of the banks / DFIs / MFBs will attend the office on Bank Holiday treating it as normal working day (except for public dealing).