Category: Taxation

Pakistan Revenue delivers the latest taxation news, covering income tax, sales tax, and customs duty. Stay updated with insights on tax policies, regulations, and financial developments in Pakistan.

  • 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.”

  • 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.

  • 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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  • FBR suspends two customs intelligence officers

    FBR suspends two customs intelligence officers

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday suspended two officers of Customs Intelligence with immediate effect.

    The following Intelligence Officers of Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation – FBR, Regional Office, Karachi have been placed under suspension in terms of Article 194 of CSR with immediate effect.

    i. Mehmood Akbar.

    ii. Parvaiz Ahmed Zardari

  • Amnesty scheme may be introduced for two months; may conclude before IMF program

    Amnesty scheme may be introduced for two months; may conclude before IMF program

    ISLAMABAD: The government is reportedly planning to roll out a much-anticipated tax amnesty scheme during the last two months of the current fiscal year, with a conclusion targeted before the initiation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program.

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  • Sales Tax Act 1990: 5-year jail for obstructing IR officers to business premises

    Sales Tax Act 1990: 5-year jail for obstructing IR officers to business premises

    KARACHI: A person may be penalized up to five year imprisonment for obstructing or denying access any officer of Inland Revenue to the business premises or records.

    The updated Sales Tax Act, 1990 issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) explained offenses and penalties.

    As per Section 33 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 following are offenses and penalties:

    Any person who denies or obstructs the access of an authorized officer to the business premises, registered office or to any other place where records are kept, or otherwise refuses access to the stocks, accounts or records or fails to present the same when required under section 25, 38 38A or 40B.

    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 a Special Judge, to imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to an amount equal to the loss of tax involved, or with both.”

    Any person who, –

    (a) submits a false or forged document to any officer of Inland revenue; or

    (b) destroys, alters, mutilates or falsifies the records including a sales tax invoice; or

    (c) Knowingly or fraudulently makes false statement, false declaration, false representation, false personification, gives any false information or issues or uses a document which is forged or false.

    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 a Special Judge, to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to an amount equal to the amount of tax involved, or with both.”

    Any person who commits, causes to commit or attempts to commit the tax fraud, or abets or connives in commissioning of tax fraud.

    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 a Special Judge, to imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to an amount equal to the loss of tax involved, or with both.”

    Where any person violates any embargo placed on removal of goods in connection with recovery of tax.

    Such person shall pay a penalty of twenty five thousand rupees or ten per cent of the amount of the tax involved, whichever is higher.

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

  • Procedure to claim income tax refund

    Procedure to claim income tax refund

    Karachi, Pakistan: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken a significant step to streamline the process of claiming income tax refunds. In a recent announcement, the FBR has issued detailed guidelines that outline the procedures for individuals and businesses to seek refunds for excess taxes paid.

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  • FBR directed to make proposed amnesty scheme more attractive

    FBR directed to make proposed amnesty scheme more attractive

    ISLAMABAD: Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to modify the proposed tax amnesty scheme to attract a maximum number of people.

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