Tag: budget 2019-2020

Karachi Chamber opposes CNIC condition on supplies

KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed the requirement of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) details to be provided by suppliers of unregistered buyers.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the KCCI said that through an amendment to Section 8 (Sub-Sec.1, Clause M) of Sales Tax Act 1990, it is now mandatory for the supplier of goods to provide CNIC number of unregistered buyer of raw materials and finished products, effectively placing the responsibility to identify non-filers on the shoulders of compliant taxpayers.

It was pointed out that with a dismally narrow tax base of Sales Tax registered persons comprising hardly 35000 in number, it is virtually impossible for the importers, manufacturers and suppliers of goods to find registered buyers or those willing to provide their CNIC details.

Consequently the inventories of unsold goods with traders, stockists, importers and manufacturers are piling up, blocking their entire working capital as well as the funds borrowed from banks.

The overnight change has put entire trade and industry in a quandary as to whether or not to continue in business because it is simply not possible to find registered buyers or those willing to provide their CNIC.

KCCI and other trade bodies are overwhelmed with complaints from traders, importers, manufacturers and dealers to take up this serious issue with Finance Ministry and FBR to find a workable solution immediately to pre-empt a crisis within the trade and industry, he added.

President KCCI Junaid Makda, therefore, urged the Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Dr. Hafeez Shaikh and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Shabbar Zaidi, to review the provision of CNIC, taking into account the ground realities of Pakistan’s economy and withdraw the condition to provide CNIC details of unregistered buyers in Sales Tax Invoices as it is not possible to comply with the condition with immediate effect.

He further urged the authorities to defer the proposed measure for at least one year so as to facilitate a gradual transition from current procedure and to help release the working capital of entire supply chain which is currently blocked.

Already the economic activities are very slow and such measures will further aggravate the situation.

Since the Chairman FBR has formed the anomaly committee which includes representatives of business community, the matter will also be raised with the meetings of committee along with other major anomalies which exist in the Budget 2019-20, he assured.

June 19, 2019
FPCCI may opt harsh decisions against proposed budgetary measures

KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on has announced to take harsh decision against duty and tax measures proposed through Finance Bill, 2019.

At a pressing briefing on Wednesday, Engineer Daroo Khan, President, FPCCI said that the decision would include closure of business and trade activities in protest.

He said that the business community would share its reservations with the government. If the government declines to accept demands then option to protest is open, he added.

The FPCCI president said that budgetary measures had would create hardship for all including business community as well as general public.

The national chamber has identified many reservations on the budget 2019/2020. The apex chamber has constituted a committee on the Finance Bill, 2019.

Engr. Daroo Khan demanded the government to restore sales tax zero-rating for export sector. Further, he pointed out that hike in tariff of gas and electricity would also make difficult for business to continue.

He suggested the government that if it had been decided to abolish the zero rate regime then there must be assurance of releasing refunds.

He also demanded the government to restore provision of audit once in three years as Finance Bill proposed to empower tax officials to conduct audit of a taxpayer any or every year.

S M Muneer, leader of business community, however, said that the business community would not protest without meeting with government authorities.

He said that a delegation of FPCCI would hold talk with Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue on June 20.

Muneer said that massive depreciation of Pak Rupee had created difficulties for businesses.

Zubair Tufail, former FPCCI president, said that the proposed budget would encourage smuggling of goods.

He said that banks should be asked for instant processing of refunds in case the zero-rating was abolished.

Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, business leader, said that the business community was meeting with people in the government and opposition.

He said that a delegation of Pakistan Peoples’ Party headed by its chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was visiting FPCCI on June 22, 2019. But we are meeting first with the government tomorrow (June 21), he added.

June 19, 2019
Law proposed to end corruption in Pakistan Customs

KARACHI: The government has decided to take stern action against officials of Pakistan Customs, who are involved in corruption or corrupt practices.

A new section 156A to the Customs Act, 1969 has been proposed through Finance Bill, 2019 to initiate criminal proceedings against officials involved in accepting bribe or corruption.

According to EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants Firm said that the Finance Bill 2019 seeks to insert a new Section 156A in the Act whereby the FBR may prescribe rules to initiate criminal proceedings against its officials who willfully and deliberately commits or omits an act which results in personal benefit or undue advantage to the officials or the taxpayer or both.

June 19, 2019
Businessmen taken onboard to remove anomalies in Finance Bill 2019

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted an anomaly committee comprising members from business community to give their input in removing irritants in the Finance Bill, 2019.

The FBR issued an office order in this regard on Tuesday to identify and remove the technical and legal anomalies in the Finance Bill 2019. The committee shall be comprised of the following members:

Muhammad Ali Tabba, Chairman

Muhammad Javed Ghani, Member Customs – Policy, Co-Chairman.

Following members are also the part of the committee:

President FPCCI

CEO Pakistan Business Council

Secretary General OICCI

Chairman APTMA

President KCCI

President LCCI

President KPK Chamber

President Quetta Chamber

Ali Habib

Anjum Nisar, Former President KCCI

Ziad Bashir

The committee will review the anomalies identified and submitted; and to advise FBR on removal of anomalies.

Technical and legal anomalies can be submitted on or before June 21, 2019

June 18, 2019
FBR sets up Finance Bill 2019 anamoly committee

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Tuesday constituted an anamoly committee comprising tax professionals to identify legal flaws in Finance Bill 2019.

Ashfaq Tola has been nominated chairman of the committee. Hamid Atiq Sarwar, Member IR Policy, FBR has been nominated as vice chairman.

Other members of the committee are included: Abid Shaban, Zia Awan, Muhammad Awais, Asif Haroon, Abdul Qadir Memon, Amer Javed, Iftikhar Taj and Muhammad Rafique.

The committee shall it’s report on June 21, 2019.

June 18, 2019
Powers to form Customs tribunal shifted to Prime Minister

KARACHI: The Finance Bill 2019 has proposed to shift the powers to form Customs Appellate Tribunal from the federal government to the Prime Minister.

According to interpretation by EY Ford Rhodes Chartered Accountants Firm, the Finance Bill 2019 sees to substitute Section 194 of Customs Act, 1969, which empowers the federal government to form, regulate and conduct the affairs of the Appellate Tribunal.

“The Bill seeks to shift these powers to the Prime Minister,” it added.

The Appellate Tribunal shall consist of a Chairman, judicial and accountant members.

The terms and conditions of appointment of the chairman and judicial and technical members (this may be referred to accountant members) are proposed to be determined by the Prime Minister.

Further, the appointment of a technical member shall be for a period of two years. The Bill seeks to explain the criteria for appointment of judicial members and accountant members as under:

A judicial member of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed, unless such person:

(a) has been a judge of a High Court;

(b) has exercised the powers of a District Judge and is qualified to be a judge of the High Court; or

(c) is or has been an advocate of a High Court and is qualified to be appointed as a judge of a High Court:

Further, the person who is or has been an advocate of High Court shall not be appointed as judicial member unless selected in accordance with the Civil Servants Act, 1973 (LXXI of 1973) and the Federal Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1977 (XLV of 1977).

An accountant member of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed, unless such person:

(a) is an officer of Pakistan Customs Service equivalent in rank to the Member of FBR or Chief Collector of Customs or Director General; or

(b) is a Collector or Director or Chief of the FBR having at least three years’ experience in that position.

June 18, 2019
Adjudicating monetary limits of principal appraisers, superintendents enhanced

KARACHI: The government has enhanced monetary threshold of principal appraisers and superintendents for adjudication with condition of reducing time limit to 90 days for deciding cases.

Through Finance Bill 2019, it has been proposed to redefine the monetary threshold of the officers of customs for adjudication. The bill also proposed to abolish the power of assistance collector in adjudicating matters.

According to budget commentary of EY Ford Rhodes, the following powers of adjudication have been proposed as compared with existing powers:

Power of adjudication

Under Section 179 of Customs Act, 1969

(i) Collector: No limit – No change in present power

(ii) Additional Collector: Not exceeding three million rupees – No change in present power

(iii) Deputy Collector: Not exceeding one million rupees – No change in existing power

(iv) Assistant Collector: Not exceeding five hundred thousand rupees: the power of assistance collector proposed to be deleted

(v) Superintendent: Not exceeding fifty thousand rupees: proposed that it should not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees

(vi) Principal Appraiser: Not exceeding fifty thousand rupees: it is proposed it should not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees.

The Finance Bill further seeks to reduce the time period to decide the cases within ninety days instead of existing one hundred and twenty days.

June 17, 2019
Finance Bill 2019: GD filing limit reduced to 10 days

KARACHI: The government has reduced the goods declaration filing limit from 15 days to 10 days by proposing amendment to Section 79 of Customs Act, 1969.

The Finance Bill 2019 has proposed reduction in time limit of filing GD from 15 days to 10 days.

Presently Section 79 of Customs Act, 1969 is as:

79. Declaration and assessment for home consumption or warehousing or transshipment

(1)The owner of any imported goods shall make entry of such goods for home consumption or warehousing or transshipment] or for any other approved purposes, within fifteen days of the arrival of the goods, by,-

(a) filing a true declaration of goods, giving therein complete and correct particulars of such goods, duly supported by commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list or any other document required for clearance of such goods in such form and manner as the Board may prescribe; and

(b) assessing and paying his liability of duty, taxes and other charges thereon, in case of a registered user of the Customs Computerized System:

Provided that if, in case of used goods, before filing of goods declaration, the owner makes a request to an officer of customs not below the rank of an Additional Collector that he is unable, for want of full information, to make a correct and complete declaration of the goods, then such officer subject to such conditions as he may deem fit, may permit the owner to examine the goods and thereafter make entry of such goods by filing a goods declaration after having assessed and paid his liabilities of duties, taxes and other charges:

Provided further that no goods declaration shall be filed prior to ten days of the expected time of arrival of the vessel.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, the assessment and paying of duty, taxes and other charges in respect of transshipment shall be at the port of destination.

(2) If an officer, not below the rank of Additional Collector of Customs, is satisfied that the rate of customs duty is not adversely affected and that there was no intention to defraud, he may, in exceptional circumstances and for reasons to be recorded in writing, permit, substitution of a goods declaration for home consumption for a goods declaration for warehousing or vice versa.

(3) An officer of Customs, not below the rank of Assistant Collector of Customs, may in case of goods requiring immediate release allow release thereof prior to presentation of a goods declaration subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be prescribed by the Board.

The Bill, however, also proposed the penalty for non-filing of the declaration within the stipulated time is proposed to be amended from Rs15,000 to Rs5,000 per day for the initial five days of default and at a rate of Rs10,000 per day for each day of default thereafter.

June 17, 2019
Finance Bill 2019: reduced duty rates proposed for various imported goods

KARACHI: The government has announced reduction in customs duty on import of various goods.

The reduction in duty has been proposed through Finance Bill 2019.

According to A F Ferguson & Co. Chartered Accountants Firm, by virtue of amendment in First Schedule and Fifth Schedule, reduction in customs duty has been proposed for the following items:

Acetic acids from 16 percent to 11 percent

Oxalic acid from 11 percent to 3 percent

Sheets of veneering from 11 percent to 3 percent

Fibreboard of wood of certain specifications from 16 percent to 11 percent

Fabric (non-woven) from 16 percent to 11 percent

Aluminium cans from 20 percent to 11 percent

Chemicals used in leather or like industries from 20 percent /16 percent to 16 percent /11 percent

Insulation tape double sided from 11 percent to zero percent

Shoe lasts from 20 percent to 16 percent

Other articles of Vulcanised rubber 20 percent to 5 percent

Graphite or other carbon or mixture of these products 11 percent to 3 percent

Other refractory ceramic goods from 11 percent to 3 percent

Other Electric motors and generators from 20 percent to 16 percent

Other automatic regulating and controlling instruments from 20 percent to 16 percent

Multi-ply (clay coated paper and paper board) and aluminium foil from 18 percent to 15 percent

Coils of aluminium alloys from 8 percent to 5 percent

Pre-fabricated room/structures for setting up new hotels/motels in Hill Stations, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, and Coastal Areas of Baluchistan from 11 percent to 8 percent

(ii) Following new concessions have been proposed under the Fifth Schedule:

– Laser transmitter, laser receiver, control box, rigid mast pack, with or without scraper at concessional rate of 2 percent

– Plant and Machinery by developers, contractors and service companies involved in infrastructure development of Large Diameter Gas Pipelines(i.e. 24” and above) projects at concessional rate of 10 percent to 0 percent subject to certain conditions

– Aluminium sheets and coils and aluminium foil, AKD wax and dispersing agents at concessional rate of 5 percent

– Imports by manufacturer of infant formula milk registered under Sales Tax Act, 1990 at concessional rate of 5 percent

– Import of Exposide resin, if imported by manufacturer of powder coatings registered under Sales Tax Act, 1990 and subject to annual quota by IOCO at concessional rate of 10 percent

– Polymers of ethylene and other plastic raw materials on import by manufacturers of diapers and sanitary napkins registered under Sales Tax Act, 1990 at concessional rates of 16 percent to 5 percent

– Import of carbon steel strip imported by manufacturer of shaving bladed/razors registered under Sales Tax Act, 1990 at concessional rate of 5 percent

– Import of CNG vehicle conversion kits approved by OGRA imported by authorized dealers at concessional rate of 5 percent

(iii) Following amendments for availing concessions earlier granted have been proposed for the following sectors:

Sector Particulars

Agriculture Sector

Certain conditions for availing the concession on import of agricultural machinery have now proposed to be waived off

Power transmission and grid stations

An additional condition has been proposed for availing concessional duty on import of machinery and equipment meant for power transmission and grid stations. The goods shall not be sold without prior approval of the FBR.

Marble, granite and gem stone extraction and processing industries

Additional condition for the concessional rate on machinery and equipment is proposed to be added with respect to disposal of the imported machinery.

June 17, 2019
Finance Bill 2019: duty exemptions on various imported goods proposed

KARACHI: The government has proposed exemptions from customs duty on import of various goods through Finance Bill 2019.

According to A. F. Ferguson & Co. Chartered Accountants Firm the Finance Bill 2019 has proposed exemption from customs duty is proposed on following items:

– Various industrial inputs / raw materials

– Pharmaceutical products

– Plastic film medical grade

– Fertilizers

– Plant and machinery for setting up Hydrocracker plants for oil refining

– Raw skins and hides

– Machinery parts and items relating to textile industry

– Solar air water generator

– Raw material for paper industry

– Wood

– Certain raw materials used in manufacture of home appliances subject to certain conditions

– Raw material and components for local manufacture of Hemodialyzer, used in hydrolysis equipment by kidney failure patients

June 17, 2019