FBR urged to restore group tax laws in actual form

FBR urged to restore group tax laws in actual form

KARACHI: Pakistan Business Council (PBC) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to restore laws related to group taxation in the initial form as introduced via Finance Act 2007 and Finance Act 2008.

In its proposals for budget 2021/2022, the business council said that most recently, via Income Tax Laws (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, exemption from the levy of tax on intercorporate dividend between companies eligible under section 59B of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (Group Relief) has been revoked.

The PBC proposed group taxation laws should be restored in its initial form as introduced via Finance Act 2007 and Finance Act 2008.

Specifically, the following is being proposed:

Clause 103C of Part I of Second Schedule of ITO, providing exemption from Intercorporate Dividends to group companies eligible under section 59B of the ITO, should be reinstated.

Amendments made in Clause 11B of Part IV of Second Schedule via Finance Act 2015 and Finance Act 2016, should be revoked to ensure exemption from withholding tax is provided on intercorporate dividends exempt under clause 103A and clause 103C of Part I of Second Schedule of ITO.

Through Finance Act 2016, a restriction was introduced by insertion of sub-section 1A in section 59B of ITO such that the surrender of losses is now restricted to the percentage of shareholding. This amendment is against the intent of the legislation and it is recommended that sub-section 1A and its references in section 59B should be removed.

Condition of Group Return Filing introduced in Clause 103A Part I of Second Schedule of ITO Via Finance Act 2015 to claim exemption on Intercorporate Dividend between wholly owned entities (eligible under section 59AA), should be removed.