KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has identified anomalies in the federal budget 2022-2023.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shabbir Mansha, Acting President FPCCI, expressed his profound concerns on the glaring anomalies in the federal budget 2022 – 2023.
“We have noticed anomalies in custom duties, regularity duties, income tax and sales tax,” he added.
READ MORE: Pakistan announces massive tax reduction for salaried persons
Mansha noted that turnover tax of 1.25 percent for traders, distributors and dealers is unbearable as profit margins are barely 2 percent in market sales and the turnover tax will continue to discourage SMEs to be registered in sales tax.
Acting FPCCI Chief pointed out that 4.5 percent withholding tax on local sale; but, normally trade margins are between 2 – 3 percent and there is no way a business can absorb 4.5 percent withholding tax and continue to operate viably. Therefore, sellers find it more viable to buy goods at 20 percent taxes; when accounted for additional duty of 3 percent on commercial importers on top of 17 percent sales tax and delist from the sales tax.
READ MORE: Pakistan reduces salary tax slabs to 7 in budget 2022/23
He demanded that disparities in the rates of sales tax on raw materials at import stage between commercial and industrial importers. The FPCCI chief maintained that under section 8 (b) of sales tax act 1990, input tax adjustment in excess of 90 percent of the output tax is not allowed. This condition should be withdrawn; as the same has been already extended to companies operating in various sectors. Furthermore, withholding tax on import of raw materials should be the same for industrial and commercial importers.
READ MORE: Massive cut in subsidies to curtail current expenditures
Mansha has proposed that at the stage of deregistering from the sales tax system, the condition of prior audit should be withdrawn to facilitate exit after three years; provided a company, individual or association of persons (AOP) was filling a null return for the past five years due to discontinuation of their businesses.
On the withdrawal of NIC condition through amending the section 23(I)(b), FPCCI has appreciated the government; but, maintained that the Finance Bill 2022 should categorically state that no NIC would be required for sales to non-filers.
Mansha also raised the issue of 12 percent tax under section 233(1). Additionally, freight and transportation charges under section 153(1)(b) at 3 percent should only be applied on final tax region.
