The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has taken decisive action against M/s. Sharp Telecom (Pvt) Limited, suspending its sales tax registration due to failure in making timely payments and filing monthly returns, as per an official notice issued on Friday.
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FBR issues ATL for Tax Year 2018, active taxpayers decline to 1.6 million
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday launched new Active Taxpayers List (ATL) for Tax Year 2018, which is showing around 1.6 million taxpayers filed their income tax returns by respective due dates.
The FBR issues ATL for the latest tax year on every first day of March. In the latest ATL the number of active taxpayers reduced to 1.6 million from 1.84 million as per the last weekly updated ATL for Tax Year 2017, showing fall of 240,000 returns submitted to the tax authorities.
The number of active taxpayers will not further increased as late return filers have been deprived of appearing on the ATL.
The previous PML-N government in its last budget announcement made a law to restrict the list with those name, who filed their list by due date.
Through Finance Act, 2018 a new provision Section 182A was added to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 for this purpose.
Section 182A: Return not filed within due date.—
Sub-Section (1): Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, where a person fails to file a return of income under section 114 by the due date as specified in section 118 or by the date as extended by the Board under section 214A or extended by the Commissioner under section 119, as the case may be, such person shall—
(a) not be included in the active taxpayers’ list for the year for which return was not filed within the due date; and
“Explanation.—For the removal of doubt it is clarified that the provisions of this section shall apply from tax year 2018 and onwards for which the first Active Taxpayers List is to be issued on first day of March, 2019 under Income Tax Rules, 2002.; and
(b) not be allowed, for that tax year, to carry forward any loss under Part VIII of Chapter IV.
The appearance on ATL is important for a taxpayer to avail reduced rate of withholding tax rates.
The appearance of name has become even more important after the amendments brought in to restrict non-filers in purchase / registering new motor vehicles and immovable properties.
With the issuance of new active taxpayers’ list the FBR will also suspend the weekly updated list as the late filers have been denied to have their names on the list.
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Authorities to pay penalty for processing non-filers’ request
KARACHI: Provincial motor or immovable property registration authorities will liable to pay penalty around three percent of the value in case of processing registration request by non-filers of income tax return.
According to updated Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the government imposed restriction on registration of motor vehicle and immovable properties by non-filers under Section 227C.
A penalty of three percent of the value of motor vehicle or immovable property is liable to pay:
i. Where any registering authority of Excise and Taxation Department accepts, processes or registers any application for registration of a locally manufactured motor vehicle or for the first registration of an imported vehicle in violation of the provisions of clause (a) of section 227C.
ii. Where any authority responsible for registering, recording or attesting the transfer of immovable property accepts or processes the registration or attestation of such property in violation of the provisions of clause (b) of section 227C.
Similarly car manufacturers are also liable to pay penalty in case of selling motor car to non-filer of income tax return.
A car manufacturer is liable to pay penalty of five percent of the value of the motor vehicle:
Where any manufacturer of a motor vehicle accepts or processes any application for booking or purchase of a locally manufactured motor vehicle in violation of the provisions of clause (a) of section 227C.
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Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Late filers not to get names on ATL
Income Tax Ordinance 2001: No commercial, industrial gas or electricity connection without NTN
Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Commissioner can take assistance of police, civil armed forces to conduct audit
Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Commissioner IR has court powers for production of taxpayers’ record
Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Tax officials’ power to enter premises without notice -
Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Late filers not to get names on ATL
KARACHI: Late filers of income tax returns will not get their name on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) that will be issued tomorrow (March 01, 2019).
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will issue the latest edition of ATL, which will carry names of those taxpayers who filed their income tax returns by due date for Tax Year 2018.
With the issuance of new active taxpayers’ list the FBR will also suspend the weekly updated list as the late filers have been denied to have their names on the list.
The previous PML-N government in its last budget announcement made a law to restrict the list with those name, who filed their list by due date.
Through Finance Act, 2018 a new provision Section 182A was added to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 for this purpose.
Section 182A: Return not filed within due date.—
Sub-Section (1): Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, where a person fails to file a return of income under section 114 by the due date as specified in section 118 or by the date as extended by the Board under section 214A or extended by the Commissioner under section 119, as the case may be, such person shall—
(a) not be included in the active taxpayers’ list for the year for which return was not filed within the due date; and
“Explanation.—For the removal of doubt it is clarified that the provisions of this section shall apply from tax year 2018 and onwards for which the first Active Taxpayers List is to be issued on first day of March, 2019 under Income Tax Rules, 2002.; and
(b) not be allowed, for that tax year, to carry forward any loss under Part VIII of Chapter IV.
The FBR issued its last weekly updated ATL for Tax Year 2017 on Monday, February 25, 2019, which carried those taxpayers list who filed their returns up to February 24, 2019.
The last ATL shows the FBR received 1.84 million returns till February 24, 2019 for tax year 2017.
While, the FBR received around 1.55 million income tax returns for tax year 2018 by due dates for individuals and corporate entities.
The appearance on ATL is important for a taxpayer to avail reduced rate of withholding tax rates.
The appearance of name has become even more important after the amendments brought in to restrict non-filers in purchase / registering new motor vehicles and immovable properties.
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Income Tax Ordinance 2001: No commercial, industrial gas or electricity connection without NTN
KARACHI: The National Tax Number (NTN) is mandatory for a person applying by commercial or industrial connection for electricity or natural gas.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) recently updated Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 which explained about taxpayer’s registration.
Section 181: Taxpayer’s registration.—Sub-Section (1): Every taxpayer shall apply in the prescribed form and in the prescribed manner for registration.
Sub-Section (2): The Commissioner having jurisdiction over a case, where necessitated by the facts of the case, may also register a taxpayer in the prescribed manner.
Sub-Section (3): Taxpayers’ registration scheme shall be regulated through the rules to be notified by the board.
Sub-Section (4): From tax year 2015 and onwards, in case of individuals having Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by the National Database and Registration Authority, CNIC shall be used as National Tax Number.
Section 181A: Active taxpayers’ list
Sub-Section (1): The Board shall have the power to institute active taxpayers’ list.
Sub-Section (2): Active taxpayers’ list shall be regulated as may be prescribed.
Section 181AA: Compulsory registration in certain cases
Sub-Section (1): Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, for the time being in force, any application for commercial or industrial connection of electricity or natural gas, shall not be processed and such connection shall not be provided unless the person applying for electricity or gas connection is registered under section 181.
Section 181B: Taxpayer card
Subject to this Ordinance, the Board may make a scheme for introduction of a tax-payer honour card for individual taxpayers, who fulfill a minimum criteria to be eligible for the benefits as contained in the scheme.
Section 181C: Displaying of National Tax Number
Every person deriving income from business chargeable to tax, who has been issued a National Tax Number, shall display his National Tax Number at a conspicuous place at every place of his business.
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Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Commissioner can take assistance of police, civil armed forces to conduct audit
KARACHI: A commissioner of Inland Revenue (IR) can take assistance of government authorities, police and civil armed forces to conduct audit of taxpayers.
According to updated Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 recently issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Section 178 explained the powers of Commissioner IR.
Section 178: Assistance to Commissioner
“Every Officer of Customs, Provincial Excise and Taxation, District Coordination Officer, District Officers including District Officer – Revenue, the Police and the Civil Armed Forces is empowered and required to assist the Commissioner in the discharge of the Commissioner’s functions under this Ordinance.”
The Section 177 of the Ordinance explains the powers of Commissioner to call for any record of taxpayer for conducting audit.
177: Audit.—
Sub-Section (1): The Commissioner may call for any record or documents including books of accounts maintained under this Ordinance or any there law for the time being in force for conducting audit of the income tax affairs of the person and where such record or documents have been kept on electronic data, the person shall allow access to the Commissioner or the officer authorized by the Commissioner for use of machine and software on which such data is kept and the Commissioner or the officer may have access to the required information and data and duly attested hard copies of such information or data for the purpose of investigation and proceedings under this Ordinance in respect of such person or any other person:
Provided that—
(a) the Commissioner may, after recording reasons in writing call for record or documents including books of accounts of the taxpayer; and
(b) the reasons shall be communicated to the taxpayer while calling record or documents including books of accounts of the taxpayer:
Provided further that the Commissioner shall not call for record or documents of the taxpayer after expiry of six years from the end of the tax year to which they relate.
Sub-Section (2): After obtaining the record of a person under sub-section (1) or where necessary record is not maintained, the Commissioner shall conduct an audit of the income tax affairs (including examination of accounts and records, enquiry into expenditure, assets and liabilities) of that person or any other person and may call for such other information and documents as he may deem appropriate.
Sub-Sections (3) (4) and (5) omitted
Sub-Section (6): After completion of the audit, the Commissioner may, if considered necessary, after obtaining taxpayer’s explanation on all the issues raised in the audit, amend the assessment under sub-section (1) or sub-section (4) of section 122, as the case may be.
Sub-Section (7): The fact that a person has been audited in a year shall not preclude the person from being audited again in the next and following years where there are reasonable grounds for such audits.
Sub-Section (8): The Board may appoint a firm of Chartered Accountants as defined under the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of 1961) or a firm of Cost and Management Accountants as defined under the Cost and Management Accountants Act, 1966 (XIV of 1966), or a firm of Cost and Management Accountants as defined under the Cost and Management Accountants Act, 1966 (XIV of 1966) to conduct an audit of the income tax affairs of any person or classes of persons and the scope of such audit shall be as determined by the Board or the Commissioner on a case to case basis.
Sub-Section (9): Any person employed by a firm referred to in sub-section (8) may be authorized by the Commissioner, in writing, to exercise the powers in sections 175 and 176 for the purposes of conducting an audit under that sub-section.
Sub-Section (10): Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (2) and (6) where a person fails to produce before the Commissioner or a firm of Chartered Accountants or a firm of Cost and Management Accountants appointed by the Board or the Commissioner under sub-section (8) to conduct an audit, any accounts, documents and records, required to be maintained under section 174 or any other relevant document, electronically kept record, electronic machine or any other evidence that may be required by the Commissioner or the firm of Chartered Accountants or the firm of Cost and Management Accountants for the purpose of audit or determination of income and tax due thereon, the Commissioner may proceed to make best judgment assessment under section 121 of this Ordinance and the assessment treated to have been made on the basis of return or revised return filed by the taxpayer shall be of no legal effect.
Explanation.— For the removal of doubt, it is declared that the powers of the Commissioner under this section are independent of the powers of the Board under section 214C and nothing contained in section 214C restricts the powers of the Commissioner to call for the record or documents including books of accounts of a taxpayer for audit and to conduct audit under this section.
Sub-Section (11): The Board may appoint as many special audit panels as may be necessary, comprising two or more members from the following:—
(a) an officer or officers of Inland Revenue;
(b) a firm of chartered accountants as defined under the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of 1961);
(c) a firm of cost and management accountants as defined under the Cost and Management Accountants Act, 1966 (XIV of 1966); or
(d) any other person including a foreign expert or specialist as directed by the Board, to conduct an audit, including a forensic audit, of the income tax affairs of any person or classes of persons and the scope of such audit shall be as determined by the Board or the Commissioner on case-to-case basis.
(e) a tax audit expert deployed under an audit assistance programme of an international tax organization or a tax authority outside Pakistan:
Provided that in case the member is not an officer of Inland Revenue, the person shall only be included as a member in the special audit panel if an agreement of confidentiality has been entered into between the Board and the person, international tax organization or a tax authority, as the case may be.
Sub-Section (12): Special audit panel under sub-section (1) shall be headed by a Chairman who shall be an officer of Inland Revenue.
Sub-Section (13): Powers under sections 175 and 176 for the purposes of conducting an audit under sub-section (11), shall only be exercised by an officer or officers of Inland Revenue, who are member or members of the special audit panel, and authorized by the Commissioner.
Sub-Section (14): Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (2) and(6), where a person fails to produce before the Commissioner or a special audit panel under sub-section (11) to conduct an audit, any accounts, documents and records, required to be maintained under section 174 or any other relevant document, electronically kept record, electronic machine or any other evidence that may be required by the Commissioner or the panel, the Commissioner may proceed to make best judgment assessment under section 121 and the assessment treated to have been made on the basis of return or revised return filed by the taxpayer shall be of no legal effect.
Sub-Section (15): If any one member of the special audit panel, other than the Chairman, is absent from conducting an audit, the proceedings of the audit may continue, and the audit conducted by the special audit panel shall not be invalid or be called in question merely on the ground of such absence.
Sub-Section (16): Functions performed by an officer or officers of Inland Revenue as members of the special audit panel, for conducting audit, shall be treated to have been performed by special audit panel.
Sub-Section (17): The Board may prescribe the mode and manner of constitution, procedure and working of the special audit panel.
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FBR launches crackdown against high-valued undeclared immovable properties
KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched drive against high-valued transactions of immovable properties in order to unearth quantum of black money used for the purpose.
FBR sources said that the Broadening of Tax Base (BTB) unit of Regional Tax Office (RTO) – II Karachi launched action against around 2,000 persons who had acquired high valued immovable properties.
Those persons either failed to declare their assets before the tax authorities or misdeclared the amount used for the transactions.
The FBR sources said that the transactions had been identified through third party sources including banking transactions, where buyers made pay orders or demand draft for payment.
The real estate sector is one of the biggest parking lot for black economy in Pakistan. This is because the declared values of immovable properties are much lower than transactions values.
The FBR sources said that the BTB has expanded its coverage all around the mega city and detected huge number of transactions, where misdeclarations were found.
The sources further said that the BTB is taking action against 2,000 high valued transactions in the first phase. This will be further expanded on the basis of withholding tax data obtained from registrar of properties.
The sources said that huge mismatch was found in the properties of DHA, Gulshan e Iqbal, North Nazimabad, F B Area, Clifton, etc.
The sources further said that the BTB had conducted independent survey to determine the open market value and the payment history of past transactions of immovable properties.
The FBR sources also made it clear that immunity available under Section 236W was available to amounts to the extent of FBR valuations.
Under Section 236W of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the FBR will not ask any person making payment of withholding tax under this section to the extent values available under FBR valuation table.
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Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Commissioner IR has court powers for production of taxpayers’ record
KARACHI: The tax laws have empowered Commissioner of Inland to act as a court under the Code of Civil Procedure for compelling production of records of any person.
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FBR devises strategy for survey of existing, new shopping centers to identify tax evaders
KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is set to launch survey in existing and new shopping markets in Karachi for identifying tax evaders.
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Income Tax Ordinance 2001: Tax officials’ power to enter premises without notice
KARACHI: Tax officials have immense powers to enter any premises for the purpose of audit of a taxpayer or survey of a potential taxpayer.
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