KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been suggested to restrict non-filers of income tax returns from purchasing gold bars, jewelry and other luxury goods in order to broaden tax net.
“In addition to the restriction on purchase of immovable property and motor vehicles by non-filers, the punishment should be made even severe by foisting a restriction or imposing an additional charge of tax, on non-filers upon purchase of other luxury goods, including gold bars and jewelry, paintings, antiques, electronics etc.”
The suggestions were made by Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) in its tax proposals for budget 2019/2020 in order to broaden the tax base and documentation of economy.
The institute said that the proposed restriction would eradicate the indifference between a filer and non-filer, and giving a sense of benefit to the filers, while non- filers should be penalized heavily.
Giving recommendations and rationales in this regard it said:
— Increase withholding income tax and sales tax for non-filers/unregistered persons by 50 percent higher rates; ‘further tax’ on sale to unregistered person should be increased to 5 percent.
— Extra tax on commercial and industrial utilities connection should be increased to 15 percent for unregistered person.
— Separate teams should be made and assigned responsibilities to visit the local shops, retail outlets and services providers to verify that proper sales tax invoices are generated and persons are registered with revenue authorities, if not they should be heavily penalized and compulsorily registered.
— All utility connections amounting to Rs2.4 million or more of non-filers should be forced to get registered by issuance of Show-Cause Notices.
In case of noncompliance, their utility connections should be disconnected.
— An additional charge of tax should be foisted on non-filers upon purchase of luxury goods, such as gold bars and jewelry, paintings, antiques, electronics etc.
