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Category: Taxation

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  • KTBA expresses concerns over delay in form issuance for taxpayer profile update

    KTBA expresses concerns over delay in form issuance for taxpayer profile update

    KARACHI: Tax practitioners on Tuesday expressed serious concern over delay by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in issuing forms for mandatory profile update by taxpayers.

    Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) in a letter sent to Member Inland Revenue Operations discussed the delay by the FBR in issuing forms for mandatory profile update by taxpayers.

    The KTBA said that Section 114A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 was introduced through Finance Act, 2020.

    The profile update has been made mandatory for taxpayers to electronically update certain information including bank accounts, utility connections, details of business premises etc.

    The deadline for electronically filing the taxpayers profile form in case of persons already registered before September 30, 2020 is on or before December 31, 2020. In case of a person registered after September 30, 2020 the registration must be within 90 days of the registration.

    Further, failure to file the form would not only entail punitive penalty but the taxpayers would also be excluded from the Active Taxpayers List (ATL).

    Till today the form as required to be filed under Section 114A has not been prescribed let alone its availability on IRIS.

    The KTBA pointed out the gravity of the situation, as updating the profiles of almost 2.5 million taxpayers and that too with the comprehensive information is a stupendous and time consuming exercise for the counsels of the taxpayers and that too at the time when the counsels of the taxpayers are engrossed in filing the tax returns as well as wealth statements, the last date of which is falling due on December 08, 2020.

    It is a must exercise to be undertaken like in any developed tax regime in the world, yet the non-availability of prescribed forms and the facility of the same on IRIS is highly unexpected and rather damaging. “The is coupled with the fact that with limited functionality on IRIS in these times of return filing, it is feared that IRIS may malfunction disrupting the timelines to be adhered for filing the income tax return and updation of taxpayer’s profile together.”

    The KTBA urged Member IR Operations to immediately take measures to prescribed the form as required under Section 114A of the Ordinance and also give directions to provide the same in IRIS for updation of taxpayer’s profile with the directions to field offices not to issue penalty notices as the delay is not on part of the taxpayers.

  • Rate of advance income tax on education fee

    Rate of advance income tax on education fee

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated rate of advance income tax to be collected by educational at the time of preparing fee challan during tax year 2021 (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2021).

    The FBR issued Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (updated up to June 30, 2020) after incorporating amendments brought through Finance Act, 2020.

    The FBR updated the rate of collection of tax under section 236I of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, which shall be 5 percent of the amount of fee.

    Following is the text of Section 236I under which the advance tax to be collected by educational institutions:

    236I. Collection of advance tax by educational institutions.— (1) There shall be collected advance tax from a person not appearing on the active taxpayers’ list at the rate specified in Division XVI of Part-IV of the First Schedule on the amount of fee paid to an educational institution.

    (2) The person preparing fee voucher or challan shall charge advance tax under sub-section (1) in the manner the fee is charged.

    (3) Advance tax under this section shall not be collected from a person on an amount which is paid by way of scholarship or where annual fee does not exceed two hundred thousand rupees.

    (4) The term “fee” includes, tuition fee and all charges received by the educational institution, by whatever name called, excluding the amount which is refundable.

    (5) Tax collected under this section shall be adjustable against the tax liability of either of the parents or guardian making payment of the fee.

    (6) Advance tax under this section shall not be collected from a person who is a non-resident and,—

    (i) furnishes copy of passport as an evidence to the educational institution that during previous tax year, his stay in Pakistan was less than one hundred eighty-three days;

    (ii) furnishes a certificate that he has no Pakistan-source income; and

    (iii) the fee is remitted directly from abroad through normal banking channels to the bank account of the educational institution.

  • FBR advises taxpayers not to share financial information to fraudulent SMS

    FBR advises taxpayers not to share financial information to fraudulent SMS

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday advised taxpayers not to share their information of credit cards, banks and other financial accounts to fake and fraudulent SMS.

    “FBR does not send SMS to the taxpayers requesting for calling on specific numbers and asking for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts,” the FBR said.

    There are numerous attempts by individuals & groups to solicit personal information from unsuspecting users by employing social engineering techniques.

    Various SMS are crafted to appear as if they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual.

    These SMS often attempt to entice users to call at specific mobile numbers and are asked to provide personal information, such as account usernames and passwords, which can further expose them to future compromises.

    FBR never sends SMS on the taxpayer mobile numbers to obtain taxpayer’s banking information in lieu of facilitating a refund to the taxpayer or any other activity associated with an individual’s bank account are extremely dangerous with an intent to defraud the individual.

    FBR strictly advises the taxpayer from calling on the mobile number specified in the SMS and disclosing any information especially related to your bank accounts.

  • FBR warns return filers against incorrect information

    FBR warns return filers against incorrect information

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has warned individuals, who are return filers, against harsh action for providing incorrect information of taxable income.

    The FBR on Tuesday said that it had acquired vital information about the income and expenditure of filers and non-filers.

    The revenue board advised return filers to visit the official information portal to view details of undeclared income and assets details available with the database of the FBR.

    The FBR also advised the return filers to correct their information before any action under the law was initiated against individuals for hiding taxable income.

    The FBR said that income tax return filing is mandatory to those persons who had obtained National Tax Number (NTN). Therefore, such persons should file their returns to avoid penal action.

    The FBR asked unregistered paying withholding tax should also apply for registration and file their income tax return.

    It is important to note that the last date for filing income tax returns for the tax year 2020 is December 08, 2020. The date was already extended by the FBR from September 30, 2020.

    The FBR made it clear that no further extension would be granted beyond December 08, 2020.

  • Sales tax rates on services provided by freight forwarders, customs agents, others

    Sales tax rates on services provided by freight forwarders, customs agents, others

    KARACHI: Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has issued updated rate of sales tax on services provided by customs agents, freight forwarders and persons authorized to transact business on behalf of others.

    The SRB issued working tariff updated on November 01, 2020 for implementation of sales tax rates on services rendered or provided within Sindh province.

    Following are the services and rate of sales tax:

    Shipping agents: 13 percent

    Stevedores: 13 percent

    Ship management service: 13 percent

    Freight forwarders: 13 percent

    However, a fixed rate of Rs500 per bill of lading or house bill of lading is also available on:

    (i) services provided by freight forwarding agents in respect of issuance of bills of lading or house bills of lading.

    (ii) input tax credit shall not be admissible.

    Customs agents: 13 percent

    Travel agents: 13 percent;

    A reduced rate of five percent is also available with condition that input tax credit shall not be admissible.

    Tour operators: 13 percent;

    A reduced rate of five percent is available with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be allowed;

    Further services provided or rendered by tour operators in relation to Hajj and Umrah tour services are exempted from the levy.

    Recruiting agents: 13 percent;

    A reduced rate of 8 percent is available on:

    (i) recruiting agents who is stand-alone service provider and whose principal economic activity is related to recruitment of individuals or group of individuals for overseas employment in countries outside Pakistan.

    (ii) Input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible.

    Advertising agents: 13 percent

    Ship chandlers: 13 percent

    Share transfer agents: 13 percent

    Sponsorship services: 13 percent

    Business support services: 13 percent

  • Tax return filing reaches record high at 2.92 million

    Tax return filing reaches record high at 2.92 million

    ISLAMABAD: The filing of income tax return has reached a new high of 2.92 million following effective measures taken by the tax authorities to encourage persons having taxable income to file their return, according data released by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday.

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  • Income tax rate on sale of petroleum products

    Income tax rate on sale of petroleum products

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has recently announced an update to the rate of income tax on the sale of certain petroleum products for the tax year 2021, spanning from July 01, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

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  • Reduced rate of sales tax granted on services for sale, purchase of immovable properties

    Reduced rate of sales tax granted on services for sale, purchase of immovable properties

    KARACHI: A reduced sales tax rate of 10 percent is granted on service provided or rendered by persons engaged in sale and purchase of immovable properties.

    The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) issued working tariff updated up to November 01, 2020.

    The SRB issued the rate of sales tax on services provided or rendered in the matter of sale, purchase or hire.

    The SRB said that the sales tax rate shall be 13 percent on services provided for purchase or sale or hire of immovable properties. However, reduced rate of 10 percent is allow with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible.

    Similarly, the rate of sales tax is 13 percent on services provided by property dealers. A reduced rate of 10 percent is available with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible.

    The rate of sales tax shall be 13 percent on renting of immovable property services. However, a reduced rate of three percent is available with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible. The SRB said that the tax shall be exempted on renting of immovable property services provided or rendered to an individual person whose income does not exceed the maximum amount that is not chargeable to tax under the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    The rate of sales tax is 13 percent on services provided by car or automobile dealers. A reduced rate of 10 percent is available with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible.

    The SRB said that sales tax rate shall be 13 percent on renting of machinery equipment, appliances and other tangible goods. However, a reduced rate of 5 percent is available with condition that input tax credit adjustment shall not be admissible.

  • Advance tax rate on sale to retailers updated

    Advance tax rate on sale to retailers updated

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has updated rate of advance income tax on sale to retailers during tax year 2021 (July 01, 2020 to June 30, 2020).

    The FBR issued Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (updated up to June 30, 2020) after incorporating amendment brought through Finance Act, 2020.

    The rate of collection of tax under section 236H on the gross amount of sales shall be:

    The rate of advance tax on sale of electronics shall be one percent. The rate of advance tax in case of sales to other goods shall be 0.5 percent.

    Following is the text of Section 236H of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001:

    236H. Advance tax on sales to retailers.— (1) Every manufacturer, distributor, dealer, wholesaler or commercial importer of electronics, sugar, cement, iron and steel products, motorcycles, pesticides, cigarettes, glass, textile, beverages, paint or foam sector, at the time of sale to retailers, and every distributor or dealer to another wholesaler in respect of the said sectors, shall collect advance tax at the rate specified in Division XV of Part IV of the First Schedule, from the aforesaid person to whom such sales have been made.

    (2) Credit for the tax collected under sub-section (1) shall be allowed in computing the tax due by the retailer on the taxable income for the tax year in which the tax was collected.

  • Sales tax exempted on services provided by marriage halls on area up to 800 square yards

    Sales tax exempted on services provided by marriage halls on area up to 800 square yards

    KARACHI: Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has said that marriage halls and laws are exempted from payment of 13 percent sales tax on services, which are located on plots measuring 800 square yards.

    The SRB issued working tariff updated up to November 01, 2020.

    The provincial revenue authority said that services provided or rendered by marriage halls and laws are subject to 13 percent sales tax.

    However, the exemption from whole of sales tax on services provided by marriage halls and laws which are located on plot measuring 800 square yards or less.

    The exemption is not available in case of marriage halls and laws:

    (i). which are air-conditioned on any day in a financial year;

    (ii). located within the building, premises or precincts of a hotel, motel, guest house, restaurant or club whose services are liable to tax;

    (iii). as are owned, managed or operated by caterers whose services are liable to tax;

    (iv). which are franchisers or franchisees; and

    (v) having branches or more than one hall or lawn in Sindh.