Tag: budget 2019-2020

  • FBR empowered to probe foreign remittances above Rs5 million received in a year

    FBR empowered to probe foreign remittances above Rs5 million received in a year

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been empowered to probe source of foreign remittances above Rs5 million received by a person in a year.

    According to Finance Bill 2019, an amendment has been proposed to Section 111(4) of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 in this regard.

    At present the FBR cannot ask source to any amount of foreign exchange remitted from outside Pakistan through normal banking channels up to Rs10 million in a tax year that is encashed into rupees by a scheduled bank and a certificate from such bank is produced to that effect.

    However, this threshold has been reduced to Rs5 million.

    FBR sources said that the proposal had been introduced through Finance Bill 2019 to shut the window for whitening of money.

  • Finance Bill 2019: Banks to pay 37.5pc tax on profit from investment in govt securities

    Finance Bill 2019: Banks to pay 37.5pc tax on profit from investment in govt securities

    ISLAMABAD: Banks shall pay 37.5 percent income tax on profit from investment in government securities, according to proposals made through Finance Bill, 2019.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in explanation to the Finance Bill, 2019 said that banks are earning substantial profits on account of incremental exposure to government securities.

    Therefore profit from such government securities as is in excess of twenty percent of total profit before tax is being taxed separately at the rate of 37.5 percent.

    The FBR further said that banks generally do not offer for taxation the provisions which were previously allowed but later on reversed. Therefore reversal of provisions already allowed is being made taxable by inserting an explanation in the Seventh Schedule.

    Banks are also allowed to claim deduction in respect of provisions classified as “doubtful” and “loss”. Now only deductions only in respect of provisions classified as “loss” are to be allowed.

  • Finance Bill 2019: Advance tax increased by 900 percent on renewal of license by arhatis

    Finance Bill 2019: Advance tax increased by 900 percent on renewal of license by arhatis

    ISLAMABAD: The government has increased the advance tax by 900 percent (nine times) at the time of renewal of license by middleman of a commodity markets in agriculture sector.

    The tax rates have been increased through Finance Bill, 2019 and may be applicable from July 01, 2019.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that presently every market committee is required to collect advance tax from dealers, commission agents and arhatis at the time of issuance or renewal of licenses.

    Now the tax rates are being increase for:

    Class A from Rs10,000 to Rs100,000/-,

    Class B from Rs7,500 to Rs75,000/-,

    Class C from Rs5,000/- to Rs50,000; and

    for any other category from Rs5,000/- to Rs50,000/-.

    The tax has been collected under Section 236J of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    According to the section:

    “236J. Advance tax on dealers, commission agents and arhatis etc.— (1) Every market committee shall collect advance tax from dealers, commission agents or arhatis, etc. at the rates specified in Division XVII of Part-IV of the First Schedule at the time of issuance or renewal of licences.

    (2) The advance tax collected under sub-section (1) shall be adjustable.

    (4) In this section “market committee” includes any committee or body formed under any provincial or local law made for the purposes of establishing, regulating or organizing agricultural, livestock and other commodity markets.”

  • Finance Bill 2019: Penalty proposed for non-banking real estate transactions

    Finance Bill 2019: Penalty proposed for non-banking real estate transactions

    ISLAMABAD: The government has tightened rules for transactions of immovable properties and through Finance Bill 2019 it is proposed that non-banking real estate transactions would liable for penalty.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that in order to ensure documentation of real estate transactions and also to ascertain the actual value of a transaction of purchase of asset, persons purchasing immovable property of fair market value greater than rupees five million and one million or more in the case of any other asset, would now be required to make payment for the said purchase through a crossed banking instrument so that transaction can be clearly identified from one bank account to another.

    In case of non-compliance, the deductions in respect of depreciation and amortization in respect of such assets shall not be allowed. Further, the amount of purchase shall not be treated as cost for calculation of any gain on sale of such asset.

    A penalty at the rate of five percent of FBR value of asset is being be imposed for violation of this requirement.

  • Finance Bill 2019: Law proposed to initiate criminal proceedings against FBR officials

    Finance Bill 2019: Law proposed to initiate criminal proceedings against FBR officials

    ISLAMABAD: The government has framed law to initiate criminal proceedings against officers and officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for committing corruption.

    A new section 216A to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 has been proposed through Finance Bill, 2019 as part of the budget 2019/2020 to initiate criminal proceedings against FBR officials.

    The FBR said that in order to effectively check misuse of authority to gain financial benefit, a new enabling provision is being introduced to prescribe rules for initiating criminal proceedings against officers and officials of the Board who deliberately commit acts or fail to act for personal benefits.

    Similar action would also be taken against persons who offer bribes or other financial benefits to the tax employees.

    The proposed section is as follow:

    “216A. Proceedings against persons.—(1) Subject to section 227, the Board shall prescribe rules for initiating proceedings including criminal proceedings against any authority mentioned in section 207 and officer of the Directorates General mentioned in Part II and Part III of Chapter XI including any person subordinate to the aforesaid authorities or officers of the Directorates General who willfully and deliberately commits or omits an act which results in personal benefits and undue advantage to the authority or the person or taxpayer or both.

    (2) Where proceedings under sub-section (1) have been initiated against a person or authority, the Board shall simultaneously intimate the relevant Governmental agency to initiate criminal proceedings against the taxpayer.

    (3) The proceedings under this section shall be without prejudice to any liability that the authority, person or taxpayer may incur under any other law for the time being in force.”

  • Finance Bill 2019: tax rate enhanced up to 20pc on profit on debt

    Finance Bill 2019: tax rate enhanced up to 20pc on profit on debt

    ISLAMABAD: The rate of tax has been increased up to 20 percent from 15 percent on profit on debt through Finance Bill, 2019.

    The government has proposed increase in tax rates on profit on debt through Finance Bill 2019 as part of budget 2019/2020.

    The tax rate has been increased to 15 percent from 10 percent where profit on debt does not exceed Rs5,000,000.

    The tax rate has been increased to 17.5 percent from 12.5 percent where profit on debt exceeds Rs5,000,000 but does not exceed Rs25,000,000.

    The tax rate has been increased to 20 percent from 15 percent where profit on debt exceeds Rs25,000,000 but does not exceed Rs36,000,000.

    Presently the profit on debt is taxed separately and is not part of the income in normal tax regime.

    According to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) the existing tax rates are 10 percent, 12.5 percent and 15 percent for slabs up to five million rupees, between five million to twenty five million rupees and above twenty five million rupees respectively.

    The rates are being revised wherein tax rates for profit on debt not exceeding Rs 5 million shall be increased from 10 percent to 15 percent, between Rs 5 and 25 million tax rates shall be increased from 12.5 percent to 17.5 percent and from 25 to 36 million tax rates are being increased from 15 percent to 20 percent.

    The rate of advance withholding tax on payment of profit on debt is also being enhanced from 10 percent to 15 percent.

    Furthermore, the separate rates mentioned above would be applicable for profit on debt up to Rs.36 million and for amounts exceeding Rs. 36 million the profit on debt will be made part of the total income and taxed at normal rates.

  • Finance Bill 2019: turnover tax enhanced to 1.5 percent

    Finance Bill 2019: turnover tax enhanced to 1.5 percent

    ISLAMABAD: The rate of minimum turnover tax has been increased to 1.5 percent from 1.25 percent in the budget 2019/2020 presented a day earlier.

    The Finance Bill, 2019 proposed to enhance the rate of minimum turnover tax

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) explained that presently minimum tax on turnover is charged at the rate of 1.25 percent of the turnover if taxable income is less than 1.25 percent of turnover.

    Certain sectors have reduced rate of minimum tax at 0.2 percent, 0.25 percent and 0.5 percent of turnover.

    The aforesaid rates of minimum tax are being enhanced from 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent, from 0.20 percent to 0.25 percent, from 0.25 percent to 0.3 percent and from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent, respectively.

    The following changes have been made in the minimum turnover tax for different sectors:

    Minimum tax rate increased from 0.2 percent to 0.25 percent for:

    (a) Distributors of pharmaceutical products, fast moving consumer goods and cigarettes;

    (b) Petroleum agents and distributors who are registered under the Sales Tax Act, 1990;

    (c) Rice mills and dealers; and

    (d) Flour mills.

    Minimum tax rate increased from 0.25 percent to 0.3 percent for motorcycle dealers registered under the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

    Minimum tax rate increased from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent for:

    (a) Oil marketing companies, Oil refineries, Sui Southern Gas Company Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (for the cases where annual turnover exceeds rupees one billion.)

    (b) Pakistani Airlines; and

    (c) Poultry industry including poultry breeding, broiler production, egg production and poultry feed production.

    (d) Dealers or distributors of fertilizer; and

    (e) person running an online marketplace as defined in clause (38B) of section 2.

    Minimum tax rate increased from 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent in all other cases.

  • Finance Bill 2019: late filer salary persons allowed ATL entry

    Finance Bill 2019: late filer salary persons allowed ATL entry

    ISLAMABAD: The government has allowed late filers to include Active Taxpayers List (ATL) after payment of penalty. Presently, as per law the late filers are not allowed to ATL entry till next tax year.

    The government has proposed this relaxation through Finance Bill, 2019 as part of budget 2019/2020. The payment of penalty has been fixed Rs20,000 for companies, Rs10,000 for Association of Persons (AOPs), Rs3,000 for non-salaried persons and Rs1,000 for salaried persons.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) while explaining the Finance Bill, 2019, said presently law prohibits placing a person’s name on the ATL for the year if the return is not filed within the due date.

    Hence, a person who files a return of income after the due date would be subjected to higher tax rates meant for persons not appearing on ATL, for the ensuing year, creating a disincentive towards return filing.

    “The condition of not placing name on ATL for the whole year is being abolished.”

    Instead, such a person would be penalized by withholding any refund due to a late-filer in the tax year in which the return was filed late without incurring any liability of compensation for delayed refund.

    Further, a nominal tax for placement on ATL after the due date of filing of return has been imposed as under:-

    1. Company Rs. 20,000

    2. Association of persons Rs. 10,000

    3. Non-salaried individuals Rs. 3,000

    4. Salaried individuals Rs. 1,000

  • Finance Bill 2019: FTR abolished on stock brokers’ commission

    Finance Bill 2019: FTR abolished on stock brokers’ commission

    ISLAMABAD: The government has withdrawn Final Tax Regime (FTR) for stock brokers for the purpose of taxation on commission earned by them. The proposal has been presented through Finance Bill, 2019 before the Parliament.

    In the budget 2019/2020 the government has taken several measures to plug loopholes of those avenues which were promoting black economy.

    The elimination of FTR for stock brokers was also part of it. Now the tax brokerage commission would become under minimum tax regime.

    The present government through Finance Supplementary (Second Amendment) Act, 2019 allowed the FTR on brokerage commission on the demand of stock brokers.

    However, the ongoing review of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding money laundering and black money the government had no choice but to withdraw FTR and presumptive tax regime.

    With the proposed elimination of the FTR the brokers will liable to provide details of investors from whom they drive brokerage income.

    Besides, stock brokers would also require to file complete income tax returns providing all details of their business transactions.

  • Finance Bill 2019: Amnesty on immovable property purchase withdrawn

    Finance Bill 2019: Amnesty on immovable property purchase withdrawn

    ISLAMABAD: The government has withdrawn a permanent amnesty for not explaining the source of investment in purchasing immovable properties.

    The government has proposed to withdraw this provision through Finance Bill, 2019 as part of budget 2019/2020, presented on Tuesday.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in its income tax salient features said that 3 percent tax for not explaining the source of investment is being withdrawn.

    Section 236W was introduced to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 through Income Tax (Fourth Amendment) Act, 2016 dated December 02, 2016. This section was granted immunity from declaring source of investment for the purchase of immovable properties.

    The FBR said that in Pakistan the Real Estate sector is one of the biggest sources of money laundering and is used as a parking lot for untaxed as well as ill-gotten money.

    In view of this a wide range of steps have been taken to restructure the taxation of this sector.

    The various steps being taken are as under:-

    (i) At present, the Board has issued valuation tables of immovable properties in 21 major cities wherein such properties are valued at a value higher than the DC rates. The purchasers are also required to pay 3 percent tax on the difference between the DC value and FBR value of property to explain the source of investment to the extent of differential between FBR value and DC value. The rates notified by the Board are still considerably lower than actual market value. It is therefore intended that FBR rates of immovable properties would be taken closer to or about 85 percent of actual market value.

    (ii) As the increase in FBR values of immovable property is going to increase the incidence of tax on genuine buyers and sellers, the rate of withholding tax on purchase of immovable property is being reduced from 2 percent to 1 percent.

    (iii) At present, withholding tax on purchase of property is attracted only if the value of property is more than four million rupees. The threshold of four million rupees is being abolished and withholding tax on purchase is to be collected irrespective of the value of property.

    (iv) At present, there is no withholding tax on sale of property if the property is held for a period of more than three years. Since capital gain is to be taxed under normal tax regime even beyond the period of three years, withholding tax on sale of property would be collected where the holding period is up to five years.

    (v) Presently the law imposes restriction on registration or transfer of property having fair market value exceeding rupees five million in the name of a non-filer. The aforesaid restriction placed on purchase of immovable property is being withdrawn.