Income tax exemptions surge by 166pc to Rs378bn

Income tax exemptions surge by 166pc to Rs378bn

ISLAMABAD: Despite massive shortfall in revenue collection the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) granted Rs378 billion as income tax exemption during current fiscal year, which is 166.2 percent higher than the last fiscal year.

According to Pakistan Economic Survey 2019/2020 released on Thursday the FBR granted provisionally Rs378 billion as income tax exemption and concession during the outgoing fiscal year as compared with Rs142 billion in the last fiscal year.

The FBR granted around Rs212 billion as exemption from total income during the outgoing fiscal year. While another Rs104.5 billion concessions were granted as tax credit. An amount of Rs36.43 billion was exempted for allowances.

It is pertinent to mention here that the FBR was assigned Rs5.55 trillion as collection target for the current fiscal year. However, slowdown in economy and COVID-19 outbreak the target was revised downward to Rs3.9 trillion.

However, grant of exemption and concession fell 13.21 percent to Rs519 billion under the head of sales tax during current fiscal year as compared with Rs598 billion in the last fiscal year.

The FBR granted sales tax exemption of Rs255.84 billion on imports. An amount of Rs74 billion granted exemption/concession as reduced rates of two percent under Eight Schedule of Sales Tax Act, 1990.

Further, an amount of Rs35 billion has been granted as exemption/concession as reduced rates of 10 percent under Eight Schedule.

The authorities granted Rs23.15 billion sales tax concession on cellular mobile phones under Ninth Schedule.

The FBR granted exemption of Rs54.87 billion on local supplies during the fiscal year 2019/2020.

The exemption and concessions under customs duty cost an amount of Rs253 billion to the revenue authority during outgoing fiscal year, which is 8.58 percent higher when compared with Rs233 billion the last fiscal year.

Around Rs95 billion has been granted as duty exemption / concession to automobile sector, E&P companies and projects under CPEC. While an amount of Rs87 billion granted as exemption and concessions under Fifth Schedule of Customs Act, 1969.

The concessions granted under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was around Rs45 billion during the current fiscal year.

The FBR allowed exemption and concession an aggregate amount of Rs1150 billion during fiscal year 2019/2020 as compared with Rs972 billion in the last fiscal year.