Defacing sales tax invoice declared as offence

Defacing sales tax invoice declared as offence

KARACHI: Defacing sales tax invoice has been declared as an offence under Sales Tax Act, 1990 as amendment has been made through Finance Act, 2022.

The defacing of sales tax invoice will attract penalties as well as imprisonment.

READ MORE: FBR to collect 3% further tax on supply to inactive taxpayer

According to explanation of amendments made through Finance Act, 2022, issued by PwC A. F. Ferguson, defacing the prescribed invoice number or the barcode or QR code has been introduced as an offence subject to levy of penalty of higher of Rs 500,000 or 200 per cent of the amount of tax involved.

Upon conviction by a Special Judge, a simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with additional fine which may extend to two million rupees, or with both may also be imposed.

READ MORE: FBR starts online monitoring sales of jewelers

Any person who abets commissioning of such offence has also been made liable, upon conviction by a Special Judge, to simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with additional fine which may extend to two hundred thousand rupees, or with both.

Certain penalties were introduced through Tax Laws (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 on failure of Tier-1 retailers to register and integrate business which have now been ratified in the Act.

READ MORE: Tax concessions to pilots withdrawn

The Finance Act, 2022 also amended laws related to powers of the FBR regarding initiating criminal proceedings.

The powers of the FBR to prescribe rules for initiating criminal proceedings against any specified authority for willful or deliberate acts/omissions resulting in personal benefits and undue advantage to authority, person or taxpayer have been withdrawn. Earlier, the FBR was empowered to this effect through Finance Act, 2019.

READ MORE: Pakistan grants tax exemption to charitable organizations