ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has assigned officers of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) for the duties to make operational the directorate of immovable properties.
In this regard Asim Ahmad, an officer of BS-21 of IRS has been assigned the charge of Director General, Immovable Property, FBR, Headquarter.
Further Rafiqu-ur-Rehman Memon, IRS, BS-20 has been assigned the post of Director, Directorate of Immovable Property (South), Karachi.
Besides Asim Raza, IRS, BS-17, has been assigned the post of assistant director, Directorate of Immovable Property (Central), Lahore.
The FBR had also make transfers and postings of several other officers for the directorate of immovable properties.
The government through Finance Act, 2018 established a director general of immovable properties in order to detect black money in transactions of immovable properties.
On November 29, 2018 the FBR notified the establishment of the directorate.
The notification stated:
In pursuance of section 230F of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (inserted through Finance Act 2018) a new IR field formation namely DG IMP has been raised.
The said section also provides definitions for all implied terms and expressions, the scope, operational mechanics and procedural parameters of this newly created tax authority and above all contains clearly spelled grievance readdressal mechanism for the aggrieved taxpayers.
While sub section (22) of the said section clearly provides that “The provisions of this section shall come into force on such date as the Federal Government may, by notification in official Gazette, appoint;” pending said notification and prior to formal launching, FBR vide this order is initiating the establishment of a formal filed structure of Directorate General IMP-IR, following the administrative steps detailed hereunder.
I. Organizational Structure: Directorate General IMP-IR
i. The Directorate General IMP-IR shall comprise of;
— DG IMP based at Islamabad and 03 Directors IMP-IR i.e.;
— Director IMP-IR North, based at Islamabad, covering KPK, ICT and Civil Division of Rawalpindi, Punjab province
— Director IMP-IR Central, based at Lahore, covering the whole province of Punjab except civil Division of Rawalpindi
— Director IMP-IR south based at Karachi covering the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan.
ii. For the time being DG BTB and Commissioners BTB Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi shall be assigned the additional charges of these newly established offices and each Regional Directorate shall be housed at existing BTB Zones at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
iii. DG IMP and each Regional Director shall be assisted by one or more dedicated units headed by ACIR/DCIR.
II. Legal Functions: Directorate General IMP-IR
Legal functions shall be notified later, in the light of sub-section (2) of section 230F which says “The Board may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify the functions and jurisdiction of the Directorate-General and its officers”. “Formal legal operations shall start in the light of 230 F(22) which reads, “The provisions of this section shall come into force on such date as the Federal Government may, by notification in official Gazette, appoint;”
III. Job Description: DG and Directors IMP-IR
In addition to the mandate assigned through section 230F of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 Directorate General IMP-IR shall act as FBR’s specialized agency on all matters relating to Real Estate/Immoveable properties i.e.;
i. Open plots, Constructed properties both Residential, Commercial & Industrial, Agricultural lands, Housing Schemes/Projects/Societies/ Towers/Chains of luxury apartments and other related similar assets.
ii. Real Estate classification in respective jurisdictions;
— Office Building: Urban and suburban, Skyscrapers, high rise buildings, single tenanted/multi tenanted.
— Retail: properties that house the retailers and restaurants and food outlets-multi-tenanted/standalone buildings.
— Industrial: Industrial buildings house industrial operations i.e. Heavy Manufacturing, Light Assembly, Bulk warehouse, Flex Industrial (both industry and offices) and Research & Development. Mostly located outside of urban areas, especially along major transportation routes.
— Multifamily: covers apartments, condos, co-ops, and townhomes, High Rise, Mid Rise, Garden Style and special purpose housing (particular population segment, including student housing, seniors housing, and subsidized (either low income or special need) housing)
— Hotels: This sector covers;
— Establishments providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists. It includes independent (boutique) or flagged—(part of a major hotel chain, such as a Marriott or Sheraton)
— Extended-stay: Limited-service with fully equipped kitchens in guest rooms and larger rooms for long stays.
— Resort: Full-service, large amount of land, in a typical resort location and has an attached golf course, water park, or amusement facility
— Special Purpose Special purpose real estate may be owned by commercial real estate investor i.e. amusement parks, self-storage, and Conference Rooms etc.
iii. Real Estate Builders, Marketing entities, Brokers, Architects, Consultants, Interior Designers and all other related services providers.
iv. Geo mapping of immoveable properties:
— Digitized property mapping and Geo-referencing based on digitized survey
— Photogrammetric, a method of mapping based on aerial information.
v. Valuation of immoveable properties: Roping in private valuers, periodic indexing of valuation, up-dation based on market survey
vi. Tracking online marketing of immoveable properties
vii. Mapping of rented properties (all kinds) at major urban centers, industrial estates, Zones and areas.
viii. Tracking operations of foreign real estate concerns in Pakistan
ix. Real Estate metrics to gauge the health of the real estate sector.
x. Real Estate Investment Trusts: “portfolios of properties whose stock prices investors frequently use to determine and analyze industry trends.”
xi. Liaison with provincial Excise & Taxation and Land Revenue authorities for coordinated operations
xii. Input to IR Policy and Operations wings with reference to real estate sector
xiii. Survey and market analysis of real estate Market Segments i.e.Geography, PropertyType, OwnershipType and Occupier/ Tenant Type.
xiv. Real Estate financing and insurance: tools & documentation with special reference to taxation regime.
xv. Forensic analysis of Tax evasion prone areas in Real estate, especially pilferages in withholding tax collection in real estate related transactions
IV. Directorate General IMP: Operations
In the light of aforesaid JDs Directorate General IMP shall start its following operations immediately after its launch;
i. Identification of high end properties on sale and Rent: Through internet navigation focusing real estate specific websites.
ii. Discreet Video Surveys of new & upcoming real estate projects.
iii. Linkages with provincial Revenue & Excise authorities.
iv. Development of SOPs for different segments of JDs.
v. Generation of Discrepancy Reports in the cases of registered as well as unregistered cases.
