KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been recommended to abolish withholding tax on telecom services considering the rate is too high and a large segment of people living below poverty line.
Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 said that currently, telecommunication services in Pakistan are subject to withholding tax at 12.5 percent, which is much higher as compared to other sectors.
Since approximately 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and the percentage of return filers is also nominal, imposition of withholding tax on the entire subscriber base is neither fair nor based on sound principle of proportionate taxation.
The OICCI recommended the FBR to abolish withholding tax to promote the accessibility of internet/data services to the low-income groups.
The OICCI also highlighted the issue of sales tax on services applicable in provinces.
In Punjab, KPK, Baluchistan and Sindh, GST on telecom sector is charged from all consumers at 19.5 percent. In the federal capital, this rate is 17 percent.
It is pertinent to mention that the provinces are levying a much lower rate of GST on other services – i.e. 13 percent – 16 percent.).
The OICCI recommended:
i. Reduce and harmonize GST across the country – i.e. a single rate for all services across all jurisdictions.
ii. Since GST is a consumption tax on usage, the decrease in GST/FED rate will result in increase in usage of telecom services and consequently drive tax collection upwards.
iii. A recent GSMA study1 concluded that harmonization of GST on mobile services to 17 percent would yield have an estimated PKR 62 billion positive impact on the GDP and exchequer. Additionally, we can expect 4.5 million more subscribers primarily on mobile broadband, which will be further stimulate GDP growth.
