ISLAMABAD: Consumers have been allowed to get five percent cash back on the total amount of sales tax charged against purchases from retail outlets.
Through Finance Bill, 2019 a major change has been introduced to Sales Tax Act, 1990 in order to widening the sales tax base and prevent sales tax evasion.
The Finance Bill 2019 proposed:
“Provided that the customers of a Tier-1 retailer shall be entitled to receive a cash back of up to five percent of the tax involved, from such date in the manner and to the extent, as may be prescribed by the Board.”
The Sales Tax Act, 1990 defines Tier-1 retailers as:
(a) a retailer operating as a unit of a national or international chain of stores;
(b) a retailer operating in an air-conditioned shopping mall, plaza or centre, excluding kiosks;
(c) a retailer whose cumulative electricity bill during the immediately preceding twelve consecutive months exceeds Rupees six hundred thousand; and
(d) a wholesaler-cum-retailer, engaged in bulk import and supply of consumer goods on wholesale basis to the retailers as well as on retail basis to the general body of the consumers;”
The FBR explained the amended regime for retailers that to rationalize tax on retailers and to capture its full potential and document its sales, following proposals are made:−
(i) Turnover tax option may be withdrawn.
(ii) For tier-1 retailer, it may be made mandatory to integrate their points of sales (POSs) with FBR’s Computerized System so that the sales are reported in real time.
(iii) Retail shops having an area in excess of 1000 square feet may be included in Tier-1.
(iv) In order to encourage customers to demand invoices from retailers, enabling provisions are proposed to be inserted in section 3 whereby FBR may allow cash back of up to 5% of the sales tax charged on invoices to the customers.
