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Category: Trade & Industry

This section covers news on trade and industry. Pakistan Revenue is committed to providing the latest updates on business trends.

  • Traders announces three-day shutter down protest against tax measures from July 08

    Traders announces three-day shutter down protest against tax measures from July 08

    KARACHI: Small traders have announced three-day shutter down protest in the commercial and financial hub of the country against the changes in tax regime, which are implemented through Finance Act, 2019.

    The Tajir Action Committee in a press conference on Saturday announced the shutter down across Karachi for three days starting from July 08, saying that the changes in tax regime are not acceptable.

    The committee presented its 11-point demands to the government and urged the authorities to withdraw or amend the laws to provide relief to small traders.

    Rizwan Irfan, the senior leader of the committee, said that in case the demands are not accepted the protest would prolong.

    Jameel Pracha, another leader, said that the decision to close down the markets was taken in consultation all traders association.

    The committee demanded abolishing value added tax and reducing turnover tax from 0.6 percent to 0.3 percent.

    Further the threshold of Rs10 million should be given for sales tax registration.

    The annual income of Rs1.2 million should be exempted from income tax.

    The condition of obtaining computerized national identity card (CNIC) should be relaxed up to sales of Rs50,000.

    The government should introduce a fixed tax regime for retailers. The proposed fixed tax should be introduced in four different categories.

    Income tax return forms should be introduced in Urdu language as well.

    Tax audits should be stopped.

    Mobile phone registration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) should be stopped and a levy of Rs400 should be implemented.

    Abolish 10 percent regulatory duty on import of second-hand (used) cloths.

    The Tajir Action Committee also demanded to stop harassment by officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). They also urged Army Chief to intervene in this situation.

    The traders demanded replacing the governor of Sindh.

    They said that the protest strike may prolong if their demands are not accepted.

  • Karachi Chamber demands restoration of sales tax zero rating for export industries

    Karachi Chamber demands restoration of sales tax zero rating for export industries

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday urged the government to restore sales tax zero-rating for export oriented industries as due to withdrawal of this scheme many industries have shut down their activities.

    KCCI President Junaid Esmail Makda in a statement expressed deep concerns over the worsening crises being faced by the industries across Pakistan after the withdrawal of zero-rated regime which has created a disastrous situation for the export-oriented industries and it was a matter of grave concerns that many industries, particularly the textile units and its allied industries have shut down their activities, rendering thousands of people completely jobless.

    He said that the industries have been compelled to pay to 17 to 20 percent sales tax after the withdrawal of zero rated regime, which has intensified the hardships for industrial units of all sizes as they face huge liquidity crisis and more importantly industry cannot borrow the loan from commercial banks at 14-15 percent interest rate which was not a feasible option.

    “If the situation is not timely addressed, we fear that the export-oriented industries will not be able to operate smoothly and they will die”, he added.

    Junaid Makda stressed that keeping in view the miseries being faced by the Industry, the government must reverse its decision to restore zero-rated regime for five export oriented industries while ample opportunity must also be provided to all the stakeholders to amicably settle this serious issue otherwise Pakistan exports, which comprise mostly of textile products, will go all the way down to zero.

    The poor performance of export-oriented industries was something which neither the government nor the business community could afford particularly at a time when Pakistan was struggling really hard to somehow maintain and improve its depleting foreign reserves.

  • Karachi Chamber urges FBR to adjust refunds of previous amnesty’s refunds

    Karachi Chamber urges FBR to adjust refunds of previous amnesty’s refunds

    KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Junaid Esmail Makda, while referring to his conversation with Minster of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar and Member IR – FBR Dr. Hamid Ateeq Sarwar during meetings in Islamabad, stated that after listening to the grievances being faced by those individuals whose asset declaration cases were stuck up due to some IT glitches on last day of Amnesty Scheme 2018, the State Minister and Member IR suggested that five percent tax paid against the assets declared by such individuals can be refunded so that they could re-declare their assets in this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, President KCCI pointed out that KCCI received numerous complaints about unprocessed cases of last year’s amnesty scheme in which although the individuals submitted their taxes well in time within the last date of the amnesty scheme but their cases were not processed in FBR’s portal and to date, the fate of all such cases has not be decided.

    “KCCI has written numerous letters from time to time so that the issue could be resolved and the policymakers have been assuring to look into this issue but no relief has been provided so far”, he added.

    He said that as the government was making all out efforts to make this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme successful, they must look into the possibility of providing relief to such individuals whose cases were not processed in last year’s Amnesty Scheme due to congestion in FBR’s portal or any other IT-related glitch.

    Junaid Makda suggested that FBR should come up with a relevant notification in this regard in which they must announce refunds to such cases so that these individuals could quickly avail this year’s amnesty scheme.

    He was fairly optimistic that keeping in view the government’s seriousness towards the Ease of Doing Business, the FBR would look into this matter and accordingly announce relief for such individuals as per commitment which would encourage many others to come forward to participate in this year’s Asset Declaration Scheme.

    He was of the opinion that although the last date for Asset Declaration Scheme has been extended for three more days but it was not suffice and the government must extend it for at least 30 more days so that maximum number of people could avail this scheme which would prove beneficial for the national exchequer. “The business community remained heavily engaged in identifying budget anomalies, leaving a very little time to examine and look into the possibility of benefitting from Asset Declaration Scheme whose deadline has to be extended”, he added.

  • Income from Dubai-based properties declarable, not taxable in Pakistan: FBR

    Income from Dubai-based properties declarable, not taxable in Pakistan: FBR

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has said that income generated from Dubai-based properties is declarable but not chargeable to tax in Pakistan.

    Replying to query raised by business community at a seminar organized by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Asset Declaration Ordinance, 2019, said a statement on Friday.

    In a query about rental income originated from Dubai-based properties IR CRTO team replied that double taxation treaty overwrote the domestic law and the UAE clearly stated that tax on rental income is charged by the country where income is originated hence rental income from Dubai-based properties are declarable but not chargeable in Pakistan.

    During the awareness session, the IRS CRTO team led by its Chief Commissioner Shafqat Ali Kehar and consisting of Maqsood Jehangir, Commissioner IR Zone-IV, CRTO and Kashif Hafeez, Additional Commissioner IR Zone IV CRTO Karachi, made a multimedia presentation and elaborated salient features of the Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019 and gave replies to various queries, ambiguities etc., as raised by the participants.

    Regarding a query on Power of Attorney, it was replied that all immovable properties, which were transferred on power of attorney, would be declared as Benami property under the ADO, 2019 as the objective of the Scheme was to allow inclusion of non-documented economy in taxation system and to promote economic revival and growth by encouraging tax compliance.

    The IR Team informed, “ADO, 2019 has been announced with the aim not to generate revenue but to document the economy in the background of Financial Action Task Force (FATF); revival and growth of economy through tax compliance.

    The Team added, “ADO, 2019 is also applicable in undisclosed Assets and expenditures and sales and provides immunity from proceeding Under Section 111 of ITO 2011; the deadline will not be extended beyond 30-06-2019 ; tax can be paid in installment subject to default surcharge; Gold Jewelry, bearer prize bonds, securities, etc., are not required to declare, open plots, local immovable property etc., can be declared at higher cost of acquisition or 150 percent of FBR value or 150 percent of DC Value ; availability of carry forward facility of stock on 30-06-2018 to 2018-19 etc.

    Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President (FPCCI) hailed the Asset Declaration Ordinance (ADO), 2019 and termed it as a right step in the right direction with the objective to bring the tax evaders under the tax net; enhancing the country’s revenue base; documentation of economy; arresting the size of ever increasing black economy; mobilize resources and to bring dead assets in the mainstream of economy and make them functional.

    He recalled that during the past six years, tax-to-GDP ratio has hovered between 9 percent in 2013-14 and 11.4 percent in 2017-18 to 10.8 percent in the current year 2018-19

    The FPCCI Chief hoped that the government efforts to raise tax-to-GDO ratio to 12.6 percent in the next year (2019-20); documentation of economy and broadening of tax base would yield fruitful results as no economy can function without sufficient revenue collection and its thin tax base consisting of about two million assessees or 1 percent of total population has resulted in higher tax rates which provides sufficient incentive for tax evasion and corruption.

    The FPCCI President informed that the ADO, 2019 had granted special treatment to the real estate sector and appealed to take advantage of tax amnesty scheme and document benami/ undeclared/ under-declared property and concede assets against concessionary tax payments.

    The participants expressed their problem in filing of asset declarations due to non / partial functioning of FBR’s portal (IRIS).

    They proposed for allowing Provisional Declaration of Assets by 30th June, 2019 and elaborated that the Scheme was announced only 45 days ago and as such the declarants who are not in a position to deposit cash due to liquidity crunch and filed declaration before 30-06-2019 may be treated as provisional and the assessees may be allowed to deposit the cash in bank accounts within 90 days.

    They also proposed that at least 15 days may be allowed to incorporate or feed the declaration data in relevant Income Tax and Sales Tax Returns / profiles particularly when IRIS is not fully operationals and as such it will not affect at all the last date of declaration of assets.

  • Finance Bill 2019: tax officials granted powers to enter premises for gold, prize bonds; KCCI opposes

    Finance Bill 2019: tax officials granted powers to enter premises for gold, prize bonds; KCCI opposes

    KARACHI: The Finance Bill 2019 has proposed discretionary powers to Commissioner Inland Revenue to enter and search any premises for undeclared gold and prize bonds.

    Under Section 175 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 such powers have already with the commissioners but the proposal intended to expand the power to include gold and bearer security.

    Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed strongly to this recommendations saying that this is against the dignity granted to an individual as per the Article 14 of the Constitution and would tantamount to violation of sanctity of residential premises, if raided.

    A research report of the KCCI said that raiding of homes and subsequent breach of privacy is against national cultural norms and is an idea uncalled for, having grave social repercussions.

    “This proposal is also against the spirit of withdrawal of discretionary powers of the taxman.”

    The Asset Declaration Scheme 2019 also does not allow declaration of gold, precious stones, bearer security and bearer prize bonds, thereby restricting a holder of such assets from declaring them before probable confiscation. Any such measure before allowance of declaration makes this a very harsh measure.

    Such sweeping discretionary powers granted to the Commissioner would result in harassment to ordinary citizens including housewives and the elderly, as now raids could be made on homes as well, and by no means should be allowed to be confiscated.

    Hence, this proposal should be removed from the budget. Further, the Asset Declaration Scheme 2019 should be amended to include declaration of gold and bearer securities.

  • Prime Minister assures business community of considering sales tax zero rating

    Prime Minister assures business community of considering sales tax zero rating

    KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured business community of considering restoration of sales tax zero rating for export sector.

    A delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) met Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday in Islamabad to discuss anomalies in the Finance Bill 2019.

    On FPCCI demand of restoration of SRO 1125(I)/2011 allowing five export oriented export sectors at zero rate, the prime minister assured to consider it sympathetically, said a statement issued by the FPCCI.

    The FPCCI delegation was led by S.M. Muneer, leader of the business community and Former Chief Executive TDAP and Former President, FPCCI and consisting of Aqil Karim Dhedi; Engr. Daroo Khan Achakzai, President, FPCCI and Zubair F. Tufail, Convener of the FPCCI Budget Advisory Council – held a detailed meeting with the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Advisor to the PM on Finance which lasted for 2 hours and discussed / briefed them about the hardships of the business community emanated from some harsh measures of the Finance Bill, 2019 that would give serious blow to trade and industry, especially export sector in the wake of exorbitant policy rate of 12.25 percent coupled with the massive devaluation of Pak-Rupee versus dollar in the last few months withdrawal of zero rated regime from export industrial sectors etc.

    The FPCCI delegation particularly emphasized and discussed ten major demands out of which eight proposals have been accepted by the Prime Minister, the major one such as doing away with raid on any premises; reduction in tax rates for service sector; routing taxation and business related policy through Federal Government/Cabinet instead of FBR, as directed by the Supreme Court; lack of personal interaction and minimal possibility of abuse of discretionary powers by the tax officials; conduction of audit once in a three years etc.

    Moreover the issues of retailers, wholesalers and real estates were also discussed in details.

  • Small traders decide to strongly resist FBR’s raids

    Small traders decide to strongly resist FBR’s raids

    KARACHI: Small traders have decided to resist strongly any move of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to raid markets and business premises.

    An emergent meeting of All Karachi Tajir Ittehad on Wednesday rejected enforcement plan of the tax machinery to raid markets and shopping centers for identifying new taxpayers.

    “The trade community will resist strongly against any raids and all such places will be made ‘no go areas’ for FBR officials,” it is decided at the meeting.

    Atiq Mir, leader of the trade community, said that the tax system of the country cannot be changed overnight.

    He said that the trade community would strongly protest against the corrupt officials of the FBR. “The government is not using tax money for development but it is used for debt repayment and interest payment,” he added.

    Other participants have suggested reforms in the present tax system. The present tax system is promoting corruption and giving further discretionary powers to tax officials would make the tax system more complicated.

    The traders suggested that the tax exempt income should be increased from Rs400,000 to Rs1.5 million. Further the turnover for sales tax registration requirement should be enhanced from Rs5 million to Rs50 million.

    The e-filing of returns should be restricted to limited companies. They said that the random audit was promoting corruption, which should be either abolished or replaced with a better system.

    They suggested that essential items should be exempted from sales tax.

    The traders assured the government that if their demands are accepted then not only revenue would increase but around one million return filers would also come into tax net.

  • Karachi Chamber opposes CNIC condition on supplies

    Karachi Chamber opposes CNIC condition on supplies

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed the requirement of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) details to be provided by suppliers of unregistered buyers.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, the KCCI said that through an amendment to Section 8 (Sub-Sec.1, Clause M) of Sales Tax Act 1990, it is now mandatory for the supplier of goods to provide CNIC number of unregistered buyer of raw materials and finished products, effectively placing the responsibility to identify non-filers on the shoulders of compliant taxpayers.

    It was pointed out that with a dismally narrow tax base of Sales Tax registered persons comprising hardly 35000 in number, it is virtually impossible for the importers, manufacturers and suppliers of goods to find registered buyers or those willing to provide their CNIC details.

    Consequently the inventories of unsold goods with traders, stockists, importers and manufacturers are piling up, blocking their entire working capital as well as the funds borrowed from banks.

    The overnight change has put entire trade and industry in a quandary as to whether or not to continue in business because it is simply not possible to find registered buyers or those willing to provide their CNIC.

    KCCI and other trade bodies are overwhelmed with complaints from traders, importers, manufacturers and dealers to take up this serious issue with Finance Ministry and FBR to find a workable solution immediately to pre-empt a crisis within the trade and industry, he added.

    President KCCI Junaid Makda, therefore, urged the Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Dr. Hafeez Shaikh and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi, to review the provision of CNIC, taking into account the ground realities of Pakistan’s economy and withdraw the condition to provide CNIC details of unregistered buyers in Sales Tax Invoices as it is not possible to comply with the condition with immediate effect.

    He further urged the authorities to defer the proposed measure for at least one year so as to facilitate a gradual transition from current procedure and to help release the working capital of entire supply chain which is currently blocked.

    Already the economic activities are very slow and such measures will further aggravate the situation.

    Since the Chairman FBR has formed the anomaly committee which includes representatives of business community, the matter will also be raised with the meetings of committee along with other major anomalies which exist in the Budget 2019-20, he assured.

  • FPCCI may opt harsh decisions against proposed budgetary measures

    FPCCI may opt harsh decisions against proposed budgetary measures

    KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on has announced to take harsh decision against duty and tax measures proposed through Finance Bill, 2019.

    At a pressing briefing on Wednesday, Engineer Daroo Khan, President, FPCCI said that the decision would include closure of business and trade activities in protest.

    He said that the business community would share its reservations with the government. If the government declines to accept demands then option to protest is open, he added.

    The FPCCI president said that budgetary measures had would create hardship for all including business community as well as general public.

    The national chamber has identified many reservations on the budget 2019/2020. The apex chamber has constituted a committee on the Finance Bill, 2019.

    Engr. Daroo Khan demanded the government to restore sales tax zero-rating for export sector. Further, he pointed out that hike in tariff of gas and electricity would also make difficult for business to continue.

    He suggested the government that if it had been decided to abolish the zero rate regime then there must be assurance of releasing refunds.

    He also demanded the government to restore provision of audit once in three years as Finance Bill proposed to empower tax officials to conduct audit of a taxpayer any or every year.

    S M Muneer, leader of business community, however, said that the business community would not protest without meeting with government authorities.

    He said that a delegation of FPCCI would hold talk with Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue on June 20.

    Muneer said that massive depreciation of Pak Rupee had created difficulties for businesses.

    Zubair Tufail, former FPCCI president, said that the proposed budget would encourage smuggling of goods.

    He said that banks should be asked for instant processing of refunds in case the zero-rating was abolished.

    Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, business leader, said that the business community was meeting with people in the government and opposition.

    He said that a delegation of Pakistan Peoples’ Party headed by its chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting FPCCI on June 22, 2019. But we are meeting first with the government tomorrow (June 21), he added.

  • Business community wants secrecy of information under assets declaration scheme

    Business community wants secrecy of information under assets declaration scheme

    KARACHI: Business community has urged Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to keep information secret under assets declaration scheme in order to ensure confidence of declarants.

    Saleem Parekh, Chairman Site Association of Trade and Industry, urged that all the information disclosed must be kept in secret and should not be shared with any other department. “The scheme will only be successful if no questions are asked with regard to the transactions,” he said at an awareness seminar on Asset Declaration Scheme organized at the association.

    On the instructions of Chairman FBR Shabbar Zaidi, FBR officials have started awareness campaign in Karachi. In this regard Maqsood Jehangir, Commissioner IR, Large Tax Paying Units (LTU) and Kashif Hafeez (Addl. CIR, Zone 6, CRTO, Karachi) visited SITE Association of Industry which was attended by Executive Committee and large number of industrialists.

    Kashif Hafeez gave detailed presentation about Asset Declaration Ordinance 2019 wherein he highlighted the incentives announced by the government that anyone under this scheme can declare their un-declared assets (immovable and moveable) and in this regard all FBR officials would help the business community.

    Commissioner informed that under this scheme all information would be kept secret to safeguard the concerns of business community.

    He informed that government has received detailed financial information from 26 countries and now it is impossible to hide moveable and immoveable assets. Therefore FBR is encouraging all stakeholders to declare their un-disclosed assets obtained before June 30,Bu 2019.

    Saleem Parekh appreciated the presentation and insight knowledge of Commissioner. He said that Commissioner has responded each and every question of the industrialists with clarity which shows his authoritativeness on the subject.

    He also appreciated the efforts of government to document the economy and extended his full support on behalf of members of SITE Association of Industry in this regard.