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Category: Taxation

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  • Motor vehicle tax collection plummets by 15 percent to Rs16.73 billion

    Motor vehicle tax collection plummets by 15 percent to Rs16.73 billion

    ISLAMABAD: The collection of motor vehicle tax has registered 15 percent decline during first nine months of current fiscal year, according to data released by the ministry of finance.

    According to fiscal operation for first nine months issued by the finance ministry showed that the provinces had collected Rs16.73 billion during July – March 2019/2020 as compared with R19.64 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    The provinces have mandate to collect motor vehicle tax.

    The lower collection of motor vehicle tax attributed to slowdown in economy and the cases of coronavirus started appearing in the month of March 2020, which resulted in lockdown.

    The major slump in collection recorded by the Punjab province, which posted 19.5 percent decline to Rs9.55 billion during first nine months of current fiscal year as compared with Rs11.87 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.

    The Sindh province posted 4 percent decline to Rs5.52 billion during July – March 2019/2020 as compared with Rs5.75 billion collected in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    The collection of motor vehicle tax by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa registered 18 percent decline to Rs1.14 billion during first nine months of the current fiscal year as compared with Rs1.39 billion collected in the same period of the last fiscal year.

    The province of Balochistan collected Rs515 million during first nine months of current fiscal year as compared with Rs615 million in the same months of the last fiscal year, showing decline of 16 percent.

  • FBR proposed to ensure CPR for deposited withholding tax

    FBR proposed to ensure CPR for deposited withholding tax

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been advised to ensure Computerized Payment Receipt (CPR) for deposited withholding tax in order to avert chances of revenue leakages.

    Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 submitted to the FBR, said that presently the taxpayer has to deposit the withholding tax deducted fortnightly, i.e. within seven days from the end of each week ending on every Sunday.

    In addition, certain WHT agent do not deposit on time and some agents do not deposit at all. This also includes agencies/govt. organizations in respect of withholding tax, where CPR is not provided hence revenue leakages to government in the absence of withholding tax deposit.

    On the other hand, where withholding tax is deducted by agencies/government organization, but do not provide system (IRIS) generated CPR as they do not enter in the system. Therefore assesse cannot get input benefit due to non-availability of CPR from IRIS system on account of withholding tax in spite of reminders.

    The PBC recommended that timeline of 7 to 13 days should be extended to one week after the month.

    Besides, IRIS system should be applicable for all with holding agent including agencies/government organizations and CPR in respect of withholding tax facing authority should be available from IRIS.

    This will help in ease of doing business and facilitate withholding tax agents.

    Furhter, the proposed amendment will help in controling revenue leakages as well as assesse can claim input tax properly.

    Thus neither it is loss to authority nor the assesse. In the absence of non-availability of CPR , this is an extra cost for doing business.

  • FBR advised to amend withholding tax on prize winnings

    FBR advised to amend withholding tax on prize winnings

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been advised to amend the income tax law related to withholding tax deduction on prize winnings.

    Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its budget proposals for 2020/2021 submitted to the FBR said that under Section 156 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 requires a company to deduct 20 percent tax on “prize offered by companies for promotion of sale”.

    The PBC suggested amended in the Section 156 that every person paying prize of prize bonds, or winning from a raffle, lottery, prize on winning a quiz, prize offered by companies for promotion of sale to end consumers, or cross-word puzzle shall deduct tax.

    The PBC said that the clear intention of this section is to capture tax through withholding at source from persons who are recipients of these prizes or winnings; the intention is not to tax any person who belongs to the supply chain of the companies who offer prize for promotion of sales.

    The income of the supply chain i.e. dealers, distributors is subjected to withholding tax in the shape of withholding taxes imposed under separate withholding regimes.

    It is therefore suggested that to clear any ambiguity in law regarding application of this section, it may be amended to add the term “end consumers” to oust any person in the supply chain from the ambit of this section.

  • MCC Peshawar announces auction of vehicles, auto parts on May 19

    MCC Peshawar announces auction of vehicles, auto parts on May 19

    ISLAMABAD: Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Appraisement and Facilitation, Peshawar has announced auction of vehicles and auto parts to be held on May 19, 2020 at State Warehouse (Custom Railway Dry port, Peshawar.

    Following vehicles will be presented for the auction:

    1. Mercedes Benz Car, Chassis No. WDB2110722B156275
    2. Suzuki Wagon R, Chassis No. MH345-745380, Model 2014
    3. Corona Premio Motor Car, Chassis No. NZT240-0001908
    4. Range Rover, Chassis No. SALGA2EE9EA162991, Model 2015
    5. Range Rover, Chassis No. SALGGA2EE6FA232125, Model 2015
    6. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Chassis No. GRJ151-0001019, Model 200
    7. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0031398, Model 2011
    8. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0033637, Model 2011
    9. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0094690, Model 2012
    10. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0090187, Model 2012
    11. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0089661, Model 2012
    12. Toyota Passo Car, Chassis No. KGC30-0095048, Model 2012

    The collectorate also announced the auction of old and used auto parts of five different lots.

  • Tax authorities consider reducing minimum tax rate: Zeeshan Merchant

    Tax authorities consider reducing minimum tax rate: Zeeshan Merchant

    KARACHI: Tax authorities have agreed to consider reducing minimum tax rate for corporate sector and individuals in the upcoming budget, especially in the wake of financial losses due to coronavirus pandemic, a senior tax consultant said.

    “In different meetings with Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Finance Advisor to Prime Minister, Razak Dawood, Commerce Advisor to PM and senior officers of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have agreed to reduce minimum tax rate for providing relief to mitigate adverse impact of coronavirus,” Zeeshan Merchant, former vice president of Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) said this while talking to PkRevenue.com.

    Merchant, who is also honorary consultant to Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), said that the actual proposal for the budget 2020/2021 is to reduce minimum tax rate for corporate sector to 0.5 percent and abolish this tax for two years in case of individuals and Association of Persons (AOPs).

    He said that in meetings Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Abdul Razak Dawood appreciated the proposals and promised to consider in the budget for providing maximum relief to businesses.

    Merchant further said that the FBR chairperson also pledged to move this proposals after consideration for incorporation in the Finance Bill 2020.

    He said that due to coronavirus and subsequent lockdown many corporate entities would not able to post significant profits or declare substantial losses for the year.

    Merchant further said that the minimum tax applied on turnover when a taxpayer declare lower profit or declare gross losses to the year.

    The FPCCI in its proposals for fiscal year 2020/2021 said that the existing rate of 1.5 percent minimum tax is very high and results in financial hardships to the taxpayers.

    Due to the current economic conditions and its negative impact on productivity, the businesses are not operating at optimum level.

    According to changes vide Finance Act, 2016 threshold of turnover for individual and AOP for turnover tax at the rate of 1.25 percent decreased from Rs50 million to Rs10 million. This had adversely affected the true declaration of turnover and has created hardship for the taxpayers.

    After changes made in Section 113(1) of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, now companies have to pay turnover tax even in case of gross loss before charging of depreciation. This has adversely affected the industry.

    Under section 113(2) (C) where Minimum Tax paid under sub section (1) exceeds the actual tax payable under Part I, Clause (1) of Division I, or Division II of the first Schedule, the excess amount is carried forward for adjustment against tax liability of the subsequent tax year(s).

    The FPCCI also proposed to reduce the minimum tax rate and enhance the limit of turnover to Rs50 million.

  • Time limit for customs valuation issuance should be fixed

    Time limit for customs valuation issuance should be fixed

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been recommended to fix time limit for issuance of customs valuation.

    Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021, said that the validity of Valuation Ruling under Section, 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969 is life time utill or unless revised or rescinded by the competent authority and Genuine Importer suffer as the Assessing Offices reject the transaction Values and Increase the Values of Assessments.

    Time limit may be fixed for issuance of Valuation Ruling under subsection 1 of section 25A of Custom Act, 1969, may not be more than 30 days and validity period under subsection 4 of section 25A of the Act should not be more than 90 or 120 days as we have fast internet system in the world over.

    (i) The following proviso may be inserted after subsection 1 of section 25A of the ACT,1969.

    “Provided that the time limit to notify the customs values under subsection 1 of section 25A should not me more than 30 days from date of first initiative of the subject exercise”.

    (ii) The words after the “applicable” in subsection 4 of section 25A should be substituted as; “till ninety days from the date of issuance of determined customs values.”

  • FBR advised to make annexure-J mandatory to prevent under reporting

    FBR advised to make annexure-J mandatory to prevent under reporting

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been advised to make it mandatory the filing annexure-J along with monthly sales tax returns in order to remove disparity between formal and informal sectors.

    Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 submitted to the FBR, said that currently only certain persons as defined under Rule 14 to Sales Tax Rules, 2002 are required to file annexure J.

    Annexure J requires taxpayers to file details of stock in hand in terms of value as well as quantity.

    Other taxpayers are encouraged to file the same but there is no mandatory requirement as per applicable laws to file the same.

    “It is feared that registered taxpayers are under reporting or suppressing their actual sales to escape the sales tax charge as currently there is no mechanism to report the details of stock (Raw material, WIP, and Finished Goods).

    The PBC proposed to make it mandatory for all the taxpayers to file Annexure J along with their monthly sales tax return in order to ensure that sales are not suppressed or made without charging proper sales tax.

    It said that the proposed mandatory requirement would help in removing disparity between formal and informal sectors.

  • FBR urged to clarify income tax relief to group companies

    FBR urged to clarify income tax relief to group companies

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been urged to clarify group relief under income tax laws regarding a holding company can purchase losses of its subsidiary.

    Pakistan Business Council (PBC) in its proposals for budget 2020/2021 submitted to the FBR, stated that as per Section 59B of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, a holding company can purchase the loss of its subsidiary provided there is continued ownership of five years as mentioned in sub-section 2 of Section 59B.

    The PBC said that this subsection 2 of Section 59B has already been misinterpreted by the tax department in various companies that purchase of loss by the holding company is allowed in the sixth year i.e. after the end of continued ownership of five years.

    “Practically speaking, subsidiary companies mostly incur losses in the initial years of establishment due to huge amount of depreciation / initial allowance on new setup (plant & machinery, etc.) and mostly no losses incurred after a period of 5 years (i.e. in the sixth year).”

    Taking the approach used by the tax authorities, practically speaking, none of the holding company would be able to claim losses of its subsidiary.

    Therefore, the PBC suggested following amendment to Income Tax Ordinance:

    At the end of sub-section 2 of Section 59B, an explanation be added as below:

    “Explanation: For the removal of doubt, it is clarified that the holding company can adjust the losses of its subsidiary during the aforesaid period of 5 years.”

    The PBC said that the propose amendment would promote consolidation of businesses.

  • FBR extends date for payment, return filing

    FBR extends date for payment, return filing

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has extended the last date for filing monthly sales tax return and payment for March 2020.

    In a notification issued on Friday, the FBR extended the date for payment of sales tax and federal excise duty for the month of March 2020 which was due on April 15, 2020 and extended up to May 12, 2020, has been further extended up to May 27, 2020.

    Similarly, the filing of sales tax return for the month of March 2020, which was due on April 18, 2020 and extended up to May 15, 2020, has been further extended up to May 30, 2020.

  • FBR allows filing annex-H for July-Dec up to June 30

    FBR allows filing annex-H for July-Dec up to June 30

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday announced extension in date for filing annexure-H (stock position) up to June 30, 2020 for the period July – December 2019.

    Filing Annexure-H is mandatory for taxpayers to claim sales tax refunds.
    In an official memorandum issued, the FBR extended the time limit for filing of Annexure – H for the tax period July – December 2019 up to June 30, 2020.

    Annexure-H is a statement for providing stock position by taxpayers along with monthly sales tax return.

    The FBR from July 01, 2019 introduced expeditious payment of sales tax refunds within 72 hours subject to the true filing of Annexure – H.

    As per the Rules, refund will be treated as having been filed only after filing of Annexure H of the Sales Tax return, for which deadline of 120 days has been prescribed in the Rules and the same can be extended for a period of 60 days on the basis of approval from the Commissioner.