Author: Faisal Shahnawaz

  • Rupee ends unchanged for ninth consecutive trading day

    Rupee ends unchanged for ninth consecutive trading day

    KARACHI: The Pak Rupee ended without change against dollar for the ninth consecutive day on Thursday.

    The rupee ended Rs141.40 to the dollar, the same last day’s closing, in interbank foreign exchange market.

    The interbank foreign exchange market was initiated in the range of Rs141.39 and Rs141.40.

    The market recorded a high of Rs141.40 and low of Rs141.40 and closed at Rs141.40.

    Currency experts said that traders were cautious ahead of IMF meeting with Pakistan authorities scheduled for this week.

    The exchange rate in open market ended with losses of the local currency.

    The buying and selling of dollar was recorded at Rs141.70/Rs142.20 as compared with previous day’s closing of Rs141.50/Rs142.00 in cash ready market.

  • Tax amnesty scheme to be introduced in three phases, to continue by December 2019

    Tax amnesty scheme to be introduced in three phases, to continue by December 2019

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has recommended three phases for new tax amnesty scheme for undeclared assets.

    The FBR recommended three phases for the amnesty scheme for period ended June 30, 2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2019. The rate of tax for undeclared assets (other than domestic real estate/undisclosed income has been recommended at five percent, 10 percent and 20 percent for first, second and third phase, respectively,

    The amnesty scheme has been proposed to cover real estate sector at one percent, two percent and four percent for three phases at fair market value (not less than value prescribed by the FBR under section 68 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001), as declared by the declarant.

    Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs recently directed the FBR to review the proposed amnesty scheme and submit a new draft.

    According to the draft the amnesty scheme would be launched through promulgation of presidential ordinance.

    According to the draft the undisclosed sales shall be chargeable to tax at the rate of three percent (3 percent) of such sales in lieu of sales tax and federal excise duty.

    It is proposed that any foreign asset declared under this Ordinance shall be required to be repatriated to Pakistan or invested in Pakistan Banao Certificate before filing of declaration in the manner prescribed by the State Bank of Pakistan. This condition shall not be applicable on such foreign asset which represents foreign real estate.

  • Trading restores at PSX after technical fault

    Trading restores at PSX after technical fault

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a temporary suspension in trading on April 25, 2019, lasting for over an hour due to a technical fault.

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  • Withholding tax rates on imports updated through Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act 2019

    Withholding tax rates on imports updated through Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act 2019

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued withholding tax rates on imports for tax year 2019 updated as per Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act, 2019.

    The withholding tax rates updated up to March 09, 2019 on import under Section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 as follow:

    The collector of customs shall collect withholding tax from every import of goods on the value of goods at the rate of one percent from filers of the import value increased by customs – duty, sales tax and federal excise duty and at 1.5 percent from non-filers of the import value as increased by customs-duty, sales tax and federal excise duty on the value of goods, included:

    1 (i) Industrial undertaking importing remeltable steel (PCT Heading 72.04) and directly reduced iron for its own use;

    (ii) Persons importing potassic of Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet’s decision No. ECC-155/12/2004 dated the 9th December, 2004

    (iii) Persons importing Urea;

    (iv) Manufactures covered under Notification No. S.R.O 1125(I)/2011 dated the 31st December, 2011 and importing items covered under S.R.O 1125(I)/2011 dated 31st December, 2011.

    (v) Persons importing Gold; and

    (vi) Persons importing Cotton

    (vii) Persons importing LNG

    — Industrial undertaking importing Plastic raw material (PCT Heading 39.01 to 39.12) for its own use.

    Filer: 1.75 percent of the import value as increased by Custom-duty, sales tax and federal excise duty

    2. Persons Importing Pulses

    Filer: 2 percent of the import value as increased by Custom-duty, sales tax and federal excise duty

    Non-filer: 3 percent of the import value as increased by custom-duty, sales tax and federal excise duty.

    3. Commercial importers covered under Notification No. S.R.O 1125(I)/2011 dated the 31st December, 2011 and importing items covered under S.R.O 1125(I)/2011 dated the 31st December, 2011

    Filer: 3 percent of the import value as increased by custom-duty sales tax and federal excise duty.

    Non-filer: 4.5 percent of the import value as increased by custom-duty , sales tax and federal excise duty

    Commercial Importer importing Plastic raw material (PCT Heading 39.01 to 39.12) for its own use

    Filer: 4.5 percent of the import value as increased by Custom-duty, sales tax and federal excise duty

    3A. Persons importing coal

    Filer: 4 percent

    Non-filer:6 percent

    4. Ship breakers on import of ship

    Filer: 4.5 percent

    Non-filer: 6.5 percent

    5. Industrial undertakings not covered under S.No 1 to 4

    Filer: 5.5 percent

    Non-filer: 8 percent

    6. Companies not covered under S. Nos 1 to 5

    Filer: 5.5 percent

    Non-filer: 8 percent

    7. Persons not covered Under S.Nos 1 to 6

    Filer: 6 percent

    Non-filer: 9 percent

    New proviso introduced through Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act, 2019

    On Import of Mobile Phones by any Person (individual, AOP, Company) :

    C&F Value of Mobile Phone (in USD ($) ) Tax (in Rs)

    1. Up to $30: Rs70

    2.Exceeding $30 & up to $100: Rs. 730

    3.Exceeding $100 & up to $200: Rs. 930

    4.Exceeding $200 & up to $350: Rs. 970

    5.Exceeding $350 & up to $500: Rs. 3,000

    6.Exceeding $500: Rs. 5,200

    The tax shall be final for all other than those excluded under S. 148(7)&(8)

    The tax shall be adjustable for a tax year under S. 148(7) in respect of :-

    a. Raw material, plant, equipment & parts by an industrial undertaking for its own use;

    b. motor vehicle in CBU condition by manufacturer of motor vehicle.

    c. Large import houses as defined / explained in 148(7)(d)

    d. A foreign produced film imported for the purposes of screening and viewing.

  • Sales Tax Act 1990: One year jail for unauthorized access to FBR computerized system

    Sales Tax Act 1990: One year jail for unauthorized access to FBR computerized system

    KARACHI: Any persons attempted to gain unauthorized access to computerized system of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is liable to penalty and imprisonment up to one year.

    According to updated Sales Tax Act, 1990 issued by the FBR, the person trying to get unlawful access to computerized system would face harsh action.

    The law explained:

    Any person who,-

    (a) knowingly and without lawful authority gains access to or attempts to gain access to the computerized system; or

    (b) unauthorizedly uses or discloses or publishes or otherwise disseminates information obtained from the computerized system; or

    (c) falsifies any record or information stored in the computerized system; or

    (d) knowingly or dishonestly damages or impairs the computerized system; or

    (e) knowingly or dishonestly damages or impairs any duplicate tape or disc or other medium on which any information obtained from the computerized system is kept or stored; or

    (f) unauthorizedly uses unique user identifier of any other registered user to authenticate a transmission of information to the computerized system; or

    (g) fails to comply with or contravenes any of the conditions prescribed for security of unique user identifier.

    “Such person shall pay a penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees or one hundred per cent of the amount of tax involved, whichever is higher.”

    “He shall, further be liable, upon conviction by the Special Judge, to imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to an amount equal to the loss of tax involved, or with both.”

  • FBR asked not to send notices for turnover tax

    FBR asked not to send notices for turnover tax

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to issue necessary instructions to all RTOs to refrain from sending notices for demanding the unjust annual turnover Tax to members of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) till the issue is resolved as the Annual Turnover Tax, which was 0.1 percent, was inadvertently being charged at 1.0 percent.

    In a letter sent to Member (Inland Revenue-Policy) FBR, Dr. Hamid Ateeq Sarwar on Wednesday, President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda referred to a meeting between KCCI delegation and FBR authorities held recently at FBR House in Islamabad in which this particular issue was also thoroughly discussed with Member IR-Policy and other officials who assured to resolve the same in due course but no correction has been done so far in SRO333 (1)/2011.

    While reiterating that Inland Revenue-Policy department and RTOs should not issue further notices, he said that PYMA members have been receiving notices for Annual Turnover Tax which have to be suspended till the FBR makes necessary amendment.

  • KTBA, RTOs discuss budget proposals

    KTBA, RTOs discuss budget proposals

    KARACHI: The office bearers of Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) discussed budget proposals 2019/2020 with Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue on Wednesday.

    The chief commissioners Inland Revenue from Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) Karachi including Shafqat Kehar, Badaruddin Ahmed Qureshi and Muhammad Ali Khan.

    The chief commissioners visited the KTBA and met newly elected office bearers.

    Both the sides discussed budgetary proposals and other matters of common interest.

    KTBA president Rehan Siddiqi apprised the senior tax officials about the problems faced by members of the bar.

    He suggested measures to improve understanding between tax departments and tax practitioners.

    The chief commissioners assured full support to remove trust gap between tax collector and taxpayers and underscored the need to broaden the tax base.

    The chief commissioners sought bar’s help for the purpose which was assured by the KTBA president as such both sides further agreed to keep in touch to resolve issues.

  • Withholding tax rate on telephone cards

    Withholding tax rate on telephone cards

    KARACHI: The decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan has paved way for Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to collect withholding tax on telephone usages under Section 236 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    The apex court on Wednesday restored taxes on pay cards to use mobile phone services. The court suspended the levy of taxes on phones in June 2018.

    Following are the applicable withholding tax rates on phone usages updated after Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act, 2019:

    a. Telephone subscribers and internet will pay zero tax on monthly bill up to Rs1,000.

    However, Telephone subscribers and internet will pay 10 percent withholding tax on monthly bill up exceeding Rs1,000.

    b. In the case of subscriber of internet, mobile telephone and prepaid internet or telephone card, the FBR will collect 12.50 percent of the amount of bill or sales price of internet pre-paid card of pre-paid telephone card or sale of unit through any electronic medium or what ever form.

    The tax will be collected by person preparing telephone / Internet bill or issuing / selling prepared card for mobile phones / Internet from:

    — Telephone Subscribers, Internet subscriber, purchaser of Internet Prepaid Cards,

    — Telephone subscriber and purchaser of prepaid telephone cards

    Along with payment of telephone bill or at the time of issuance of or sales of prepared cards.

  • Korea extends $500 million concessional loan to Pakistan

    Korea extends $500 million concessional loan to Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Korea signed a framework arrangement amounting to $500 million on Wednesday. The ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs.

    Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Noor Ahmed and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Kwak Sung-Kyu, signed the Framework Arrangement on behalf of their respective governments.

    Under the signed Framework Arrangement (2018-20), Republic of Korea will provide long term concessional financing up to $500 million for execution of various development projects in Health, Information Technology, Communication, Agriculture, and Energy etc.

    Earlier, the Ambassador called on the Adviser and discussed matters pertaining to enhancement of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

    The Adviser informed the envoy that Pakistan attached significant importance to its ties with the Republic of Korea which had so many layers of cooperation with Pakistan in both public and private sectors.

    The Adviser appreciated the role and cooperation extended by the Republic of Korea for development projects in Pakistan.

    He said that the economic relations between the two countries would be further strengthened with the passage of time and Framework Arrangement will enable Pakistan to seek financing from Korean Exim Bank for development of various Infrastructure Projects in Pakistan.

    The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea hoped that this Framework Arrangement would be instrumental in backing up the economic policies and initiatives being pursued by the new Pakistani government.

    He said that the Arrangement would go a long way in further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

    He also said that Korea would extend all possible cooperation for economic development of Pakistan, which would be greatly conducive to promoting bilateral relations in the years ahead.

  • FBR starts collecting withholding tax on cell phones after apex court decision

    FBR starts collecting withholding tax on cell phones after apex court decision

    ISLAMABAD, September 14, 2024 – The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and provincial revenue authorities are set to resume the collection of withholding tax on mobile phone top-ups following a decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Wednesday.

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