Author: Mrs. Anjum Shahnawaz

  • Importer to pay KIBOR+3pc on timely payment failure

    Importer to pay KIBOR+3pc on timely payment failure

    KARACHI: An importer in case of failure to pay import duty or other taxes within specified time then the importer shall be liable to pay surcharge at the rate of KIBOR + 3 percent on the due charges.

    According to Customs Act, 1969 updated June 30, 2019 issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the KIBOR means Karachi Inter Bank Offered Rate prevalent on the first day of each quarter of the financial year.

    According to the Customs Act, 1969, under Section 21A the FBR is allowed to defer collection of customs duty. However, where deferment of customs duties is allowed by the FBR, a surcharge not exceeding KIBOR plus three percent per annum shall also be payable on the deferred amount from such date and in the manner as the FBR may be rules prescribed.

    Similarly, under Section 80 related to clearance of goods for home consumption, the act explained that where the owner fails to pay import duty and other charges within 10 days from the date on which the time same has been assessed under Section 80 or 80, he shall be liable to pay surcharge at the rate of KIBOR plus three percent on import duty and other charges payable on suchg goods.

    Section 86 related to submission of post-dated cheque and indemnity bond, the FBR said:

    When any such application has been made in respect of any goods, the owner of the goods to which it relates shall furnish an indemnity bond and post-dated cheque equivalent to the duty assessed under section 80 or section 81 or reassessed under section 109 on such goods,-

    (a) to observe all the provisions of this Act and the rules in respect of such goods;

    (b) to pay on or before a date specified in a notice of demand all duties, taxes, rent and charges payable in respect of such goods together with surcharge on the same from the date so specified at the rate of KIBOR plus three per cent per annum or such other rate as is for the time being fixed by the Board; and

    (c) to discharge all penalties incurred for violation of the provisions of this Act and the rules in respect of such goods.

    The Section 202A related to levy of surcharge, explained that notwithstanding anything contained in this Act and without prejudice to any other action that may be taken thereunder, if any person fails to pay the arrears within the prescribed time, he shall, in addition to the arrears, be liable to pay surcharge at the rate of KIBOR plus three per cent per annum, of the total amount of arrears.

  • FBR asks people to check transactions details, file income tax returns

    FBR asks people to check transactions details, file income tax returns

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Sunday urged people to file their annual returns on the basis of information, which is already possessed by the revenue authority.

    The FBR said that it had information of those people who had made transactions and paid withholding taxes. These information are included: bank accounts, assets, foreign travels, payment for utility bills etc.

    The revenue body advised people to check their transactions on information portal of the FBR and file their annual returns by mid-night of September 30, 2019 in order to avoid penal action.

    The FBR officials said that the information had been obtained from withholding agents and fed into the main database of the revenue body.

    They said that several transactions made by persons including immovable property purchase of certain covered area, motor vehicles above 1,000 CC etc are required to file annual income tax returns.

    In case those persons, whose information already with the FBR, have failed to file their returns then the tax officials would initiate legal proceedings and mandatory return filing.

    The FBR said that the persons who want to know their transactions on the FBR portal then they should visit the FBR website and create an account to login and fetch information.

    The FBR warned people to file their income tax returns as the last date for tax year 2019 is September 30, 2019. Otherwise the FBR will take stern action against non-compliant persons.

  • PTBA advises return filing date extension; points out deficiencies

    PTBA advises return filing date extension; points out deficiencies

    KARACHI: Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) has asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to extend the last date for filing income tax returns up to December 31, 2019 as the return form still has many deficiencies.

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  • FPCCI suggests one month extension in income tax return filing

    FPCCI suggests one month extension in income tax return filing

    KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday urged the government to extend the last date for filing income tax return up to October 31, 2019.

    Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) has urged the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, and Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Syed Shabbar Zaidi to extend the deadline for filing of Income Tax Returns (ITR) from 30th September to 31st October, 2019.

    The FPCCI Chief argued that a large number of business community members could not file their ITR mainly due to a variety of reasons such as uncertainty prevailing in the country because of changes in the taxation provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance 2011 ; slowdown of normal business activities; Election of FPCCI member trade bodies; interruption in on-line system of e-filing of ITR ; protracted rain etc.

    “This will help the tax payers in discharging their tax liability well in time without penalty on the one hand and increase in government exchequer on the other hand”, he added.

  • Container scanning charges abolished: Ali Zaidi

    Container scanning charges abolished: Ali Zaidi

    KARACHI: Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Maritime Affairs, on Saturday said the container scanning charges has been abolished in order to reduce the cost of the industry.

    He was addressing the members of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

    Zaidi said that the terminal operators had been scanning charging at $5 on each container handling. “The terminal operators were charging this amount from all the containers irrespective of scanning or no scanning,” he added.

    The minister said the terminal had been stopped from charging this on those containers which were not scanned.

    The minister also said that he had opposed to collect fuel freight charges on supplies to Karachi city. He said that all the petroleum products imported at Karachi ports and then supplied to other parts of the country.

    Ali Zaidi said that he had openly opposed to this levy in order to facilitate people and the industry.

    He said that land transfer of Port Qasim and KPT had been stopped till the audit of already allotted lands.

    He disclosed that there was huge corruption in land allotments of port lands.

  • Weekly Review: Market likely to stay in positive territory on narrow trade deficit, stable forex reserves

    Weekly Review: Market likely to stay in positive territory on narrow trade deficit, stable forex reserves

    KARACHI: The stock market may move in positive territory next week owing to narrow trade deficit and stable foreign exchange reserves.

    Analysts at Arif Habib Limited said that the market to be positive during the coming week.

    “With the trade deficit narrowing and foreign reserves stabilizing investor sentiment is likely to be positive,” they added.

    KSE-100 index commenced on a negative note this week, with SBP forecasting the inflation to remain high for the next two years.

    Moreover the ADB projected a slowdown in the economy which kept the sentiment weak. However, the recent improvement on the macro-economic front cushioned the dip and positive news flow from the US regarding the Kashmir issue uplifted sentiments on Friday. The index closed at 32,070 points (-40 points WoW).

    Sector-wise negative contributions came from i) Commercial Banks (122 points), ii) Power Generation & Distribution (24 points), iii) Chemical (21 points), iv) Pharmaceuticals (14 points), and v) Automobile Parts & Accessories (13 points). Scrip-wise negative contributions were led by HBL (67 points), HUBC (56 points), UBL (29 points), SEARL (27 points) and NBP (23 points).

    Foreign selling was witnessed this week clocking-in at USD 8.8 million compared to a net buy of USD 7.8 million last week. Selling was witnessed in Cement (USD 2.4 million) and Commercial Banks (USD 2.2 million).

    On the domestic front, major selling was reported by Banks/DFIs (USD 6.7 million) and Broker Proprietary Trading (USD 6.2mn). Average Volumes settled at 108 million shares (down by 12 percent WoW) while average value traded clocked-in at USD 25 million (down by 24 percent WoW).

  • FBR explains benefits of timely filing income tax returns

    FBR explains benefits of timely filing income tax returns

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has explained benefits of filing annual income tax returns for tax year 2019 by due date i.e. September 30, 2019.

    The FBR in its ongoing campaign for encouraging people to file their income tax returns by due date highlighted advantages of filing by due date and also pointed out disadvantages of non-compliance.

    The FBR said that for not filing the return by due date the person/company will be charged withholding tax at double rates; FBR will assess the applicable tax without serving any notice; legal action will be taken resulting into imprisonment of one to three years; fine will be charged on late submission of income tax return.

    By filing the income tax returns by due date i.e. September 30, a person/company shall be enlisted to Active Taxpayers List (ATL). The following are the benefits of ATL enlistment:

    — Almost half of the withholding tax as compared with the inactive taxpayers

    — 5.5 percent tax on imports (raw material)

    — 6 percent on imports (commercial)

    — 15 percent tax on dividends

    — 10 percent tax on bank and saving scheme profit worth up to Rs0.5 million and 15 percent on above Rs0.5 million

    — 4.5 percent tax on sale of goods by persons except companies

    — 10 percent tax on provision of services by persons except companies

    — 7.5 percent tax on contracts executed by person except companies

    — 15 percent tax on prize money of prize bonds

    — 12 percent tax on commission

    — Annual token fee of vehicles from Rs800 to Rs10,000

    — Withholding tax on vehicle registration from Rs7,500 to Rs250,000

    — No tax on cash withdrawal of more than Rs50,000 from banks

    — No tax on bank transactions (cross cheque, pay order, demand draft etc.)

    — One percent tax on purchase of property

    — 10 percent tax on sale by auction

    — Tax on mobile phone import from Rs70 to Rs200

    — 10 percent tax deduction for payment against advertisement to non-resident person.

    The FBR also highlighted drawback in shape of double rate of tax on following transactions in case of not filing return by due date:

    — Almost double tax rate

    — 11 percent tax on imports (raw material)

    — 12 percent on imports (commercial)

    — 30 percent tax on dividends

    — 20 percent tax on bank and saving scheme profit worth up to Rs0.5 million and 30 percent on above Rs0.5 million

    — 9 percent tax on sale of goods by persons except companies

    — 20 percent tax on provision of services by persons except companies

    — 15 percent tax on contracts executed by person except companies

    — 30 percent tax on prize money of prize bonds

    — 24 percent tax on commission

    — Annual token fee of vehicles from Rs1600 to Rs20,000

    — Withholding tax on vehicle registration from Rs15,000 to Rs500,000

    — 0.6 percent tax on cash withdrawal of more than Rs50,000 from banks

    — 0.6 percent tax on bank transactions (cross cheque, pay order, demand draft etc.)

    — Two percent tax on purchase of property

    — 20 percent tax on sale by auction

    — Tax on mobile phone import from Rs140 to Rs400

    — 20 percent tax deduction for payment against advertisement to non-resident person.

  • FBR attaches Benami properties worth Rs4 billion; issues 104 notices

    FBR attaches Benami properties worth Rs4 billion; issues 104 notices

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday said that it has attached Benami properties worth Rs4 billion in 15 cases.

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  • Banks directed to adopt standard QR codes for payments in Pakistan

    Banks directed to adopt standard QR codes for payments in Pakistan

    KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed all commercial banks and other financial institutions to adopt EMVCo’s EMV QR Code Specifications for Payment Systems (QRCPS).

    The SBP said that Quick Response (QR) Codes have been emerging as low cost payment acceptance alternative to Point of Sale (POS) terminals in Pakistan, especially for small merchants.

    Although QR codes have been deployed in substantial numbers, the volume of transactions has not achieved desired levels primarily due to their lack of interoperability.

    Therefore, as a first step towards achieving interoperability of Payment QR Codes in Pakistan, SBP after extensive stakeholder consultations has decided that henceforth all Institutions issuing and/or acquiring QR codes for payments in Pakistan shall adopt EMVCo’s EMV QR Code Specifications for Payment Systems (QRCPS).

    Further, non-EMV QR Codes already deployed in Pakistan shall comply with this standard by 31st March, 2020.

    The SBP said that institutions issuing/acquiring QR Codes shall also ensure:

    Compliance with branding guidelines for QR Codes displayed at merchant locations (attached at Annexure-A).

    Data related to issuance and usage of QR codes, as per Annexure-B, is submitted on quarterly basis to Payment Systems Department (PSD) within a fortnight of quarter end.

    Compliance of SBP’s instructions, guidelines, rules and regulations on Consumer Protection and Dispute Resolution issued and amended from time to time.
    Further, institutions acquiring QR Codes are also encouraged to:

    Promote innovative uses of QR codes like invoice/challan based payments, branch based Inter-bank Fund Transfers (IBFT) etc.; and

    Plan for achieving inter scheme interoperability in due course of time.

  • FBR issues instructions for filing income tax returns, wealth statement

    FBR issues instructions for filing income tax returns, wealth statement

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday issued manual for filing income tax return and wealth statement for tax year 2019.

    The FBR issued SRO 1160(I)/2019 dated September 27, 2019 to notify instructions for filing annual income returns and wealth statement.

    The FBR also issued manual paper return forms for individuals. The form has been issued just three days ahead of due date.

    The FBR made amendment to SRO 979(I)/2019 dated September 02, 2019 through the latest SRO.

    The instructions issued for filing in return form and wealth statement, the FBR said:

    The following persons are required to furnish a return of income for a tax year:

    (a) Every company;

    (b) Every person (other than a company) whose taxable income for the year exceeds PKR 400,000;

    (c) Every non-profit organization as defined in clause (36) of section 2;

    (d) Every welfare institution approved under clause (58) of Part I of the Second Schedule;

    (e) Every person who has been charged to tax in respect of any of the two preceding tax years;

    (f) Every person who claims a loss carried forward under this Ordinance for a tax year;

    (g) Every person who owns immovable property with a land area of two hundred and fifty square yards or more or owns any flat located in areas falling within the municipal limits existing immediately before the commencement of Local Government laws in the provinces; or areas in a Cantonment; or the Islamabad Capital Territory;

    (h) Every person who owns immoveable property with a land area of five hundred square yards or more located in a rating area;

    (i) Every person who owns a flat having covered area of two thousand square feet or more located in a rating area;

    (j) Every person who owns a motor vehicle having engine capacity above 1000 CC;

    (k) Every person who has obtained National Tax Number;

    (l) Every person who is the holder of commercial or industrial connection of electricity where the amount of annual bill exceeds rupees five hundred thousand;

    (m) Every person who is registered with any chamber of commerce and industry or any trade or business association or any market committee or any professional body including Pakistan Engineering Council, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Bar Council or any Provincial Bar Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan or Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan;

    (n) Every individual whose income under the head Business exceeds PKR 300,000 but does not exceed PKR 400,000 in a tax year.

    (o) Every individual & AOP deriving property income exceeding Rs. 200,000

    According to the general instructions, the FBR said that the following errors / omissions shall render a Return invalid & make the taxpayer a non-filer & liable to penalty under section 182(1):

    (a) Return on which CNIC is missing or incorrect or invalid;

    (b) Return on which mandatory fields marked by * are empty;

    (c) Return which is not signed by the Taxpayer or his Representative (as defined in section 172 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001);

    (d) Return which is not filed in the prescribed Form;

    (e) Return which is not filed in the prescribed mode.

    Individuals deriving income under the head Property, Capital Gains & Other Sources (excluding Salary / Business) & Income subject to fixed / final tax have to file one page Return in IT-1B Form with Annex-A, Annex-F & Wealth Statement if required to be filed.

    Individuals deriving income under the head business or falling under Final Tax Regime (FTR) such as Commercial Importers, Exporters, Contractors, etc. have to file two page Return in IT-2 Form with Annex-A, Annex-B, Annex-F & Wealth Statement if required to be filed. Annex C, Annex-D & Annex-E are required only where Depreciation / Amortization, Admissible / Inadmissible Deductions & Minimum Tax Chargeable / Option out of Presumptive Tax Regime are involved.

    Individuals, including members of AOPs or directors of Companies must file Wealth Statement.

    Taxpayers may file Return of Total Income / Statement of Final Taxation & Wealth Statement through the following modes:

    Electronically at FBR Portal (https://iris.fbr.gov.pk/infosys/public/txplogin.xhtml) which is mandatory for all Companies, AOPs, Sales Tax Registered Persons, Refund Claimants, Individuals having income under the head Salary and Individuals declaring taxable income of one million and more or turnover or receipts exceeding fifty million.

    However, all others are also encouraged to electronically file Return; Manually on paper at Taxpayer Facilitation Counter of the respective Regional Tax Office. Paper Return Form can be downloaded from FBR Website http://www.fbr.gov.pk.

    Taxpayers may seek guidance through the following modes:

    By calling Helpline 0800 00 227, 051 111-227-227

    By visiting the nearest Taxpayer Facilitation Centre (TFC), list of which can be downloaded from FBR website at http://www.fbr.gov.pk

    Tax can be paid in any authorized branch of NBP & SBP at any time before filing of return. List of authorized braches of NBP & SBP can be downloaded from http://www.fbr.gov.pk.

    Only Foreign Income (Not Loss) should be declared.

    Only Agriculture Income (Not Loss) should be declared.

    Tax Credits include Tax Credits for the following:

    Share in Taxed Income from AOP;

    Charitable Donations u/s 61;

    Investment in Shares of Public Companies listed on a Stock Exchange in Pakistan (only for Original Allottee other than a Company) u/s 62;

    Life Insurance Premium (only for Resident Individual deriving income from Salary / Business) u/s 62;

    Contribution to Approved Pension Fund (only for Pakistani Individual registered with FBR / NADRA deriving income from Salary / Business) u/s 63;

    Annex-E Taxpayers wanting to opt out of Final Tax Regime (FTR) u/c (56B), (56C), (56D), (56E), (56F), (56G), Part IV, Second Schedule, must file Annex-E.

    Annex-F: Only Personal / Household (Non-Business) expenses should be declared.

    Annex-F: Expenses borne by more than one person must be declared in total by each person.

    For example, if in one family more than one member is contributing to expenses or if more than one family is living jointly & within each family more than one member is contributing to expenses, total expenses under each head must be declared by each member of each family filing his wealth statement & then contribution by other family members be deducted to arrive at own contribution.

    Instructions related to Wealth Statement

    If rows provided in any segment are inadequate, additional rows may be inserted.

    All assets must be delared at cost, including ancillary expenses.

    If an asset is acquired under a Hire Purchase Agreement, total price should be declared as asset under the appropriate head & balance payable amount should be declared as liability.

    If Wealth Statement is filed for the first time, separate Reconciliation Statement must be filed for each previous year.

    Equipment, Plant, Machinery (Non-Business) must be declared with description, for example, Generator, Tubewell, Harvestor, Tractor, Trolley, etc.

    Assets created, whether in Pakistan or abroad, in the name of spouse(s), children & other dependents should be declared only if acquired by them with funds provided by you (Benami Assets).

    A separate column for assets held outside Pakistan has been added wherein any/all assets held abroad are to be declared at cost in Pak Rupee Value.