Tag: FBR

FBR, Pakistan’s national tax collecting agency, plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. Pakistan Revenue is committed to providing readers with the latest updates and developments regarding FBR activities.

  • Amnesty declarants can pay tax at 20pc default surcharge by Dec 31

    Amnesty declarants can pay tax at 20pc default surcharge by Dec 31

    KARACHI: Persons / companies can avail amnesty scheme 2019 by paying 20 percent default surcharge by December 31, 2019 subject to declaration filed by due date.

    Officials at Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that the scheme was promulgated through presidential ordinance on May 14, 2019 to allow the non-documented economy’s inclusion in the taxation system and serve the purpose of economic revival and growth by encouraging a tax compliant economy.

    The amnesty was granted till on or before June 30, 2019 for a declaration only in respect of any –

    (a) undisclosed assets, held in Pakistan and abroad, acquired up to June 30, 2018;

    (b) undisclosed sales made up to June 30, 2018;

    (c) undisclosed expenditure incurred up to June 30, 2018; or

    (d) benami assets acquired or held on or before the date of declaration.

    As per the time of payment, the scheme allowed the due date for payment of tax on or before June 30, 2019. However after the due date, the tax shall be paid on or before June 30, 2020 along with default surcharges.

    If person fails to pay tax and default surcharge, the declaration made would be void and would be deemed to have never been made under the scheme.

    The rate of tax for the amnesty scheme was:

    01. All assets except domestic immovable properties at 4 percent

    02. Domestic immovable properties at 1.5 percent

    03. Foreign liquid assets not repatriated at 6 percent

    04. Unexplained expenditure at 4 percent

    05. Undisclosed sales at 2 percent.

    The rate of default surcharge under the scheme has been set to increase by a default surcharge by amount percentage as specified following:

    01. If the tax is paid after the June 30, 2019 and on or before September 30, 2019, the rate of default surcharge shall be 10 percent of the tax amount.

    02. If the tax is paid after September 30, 2019 and on or before December 31, 2019, the rate of default surcharge shall be 20 percent of the tax amount.

    03. If the tax is paid after December 31, 2019 and on or before March 31, 2020, the rate of default surcharge shall be 30 percent of the tax amount.

    04. If the tax is paid after March 31, 2020 and on or before June 30, 2020, the rate of default surcharge shall be 40 percent of the tax amount.

  • Procedure to get registered as informer with tax authority

    Procedure to get registered as informer with tax authority

    ISLAMABAD: The income tax rules has described the procedure for a person to get registered as an informer with Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in order to provide information of tax evasion and get reward as per law.

    The tax officials said that Income Tax Rules, 2002 has explained the criteria for a person to become informer.

    According to the rules, a person, other than a lunatic or idiot, may be registered as informer, if he fulfills the criteria of whistleblower as defined in the tax laws.

    A registered informer shall be liable to de-registration on such condition to be recorded in writing and as may be deemed fit by Chief Commissioner, member or Director General, as the case may be.

    Registration of informer

    (1) Subject to section 227B of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 (XLIX of 2001), section 72D of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and section 42D of the Federal Excise Act, 2005, as the case may be, any person desirous of getting himself registered as an informer may make an application to the Chief Commissioner for registration under this rule.

    (2) The application under sun-rule (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall be verified in the prescribed manner.

    (3) The application shall be accompanied by the following documents, namely.-

    (a) copy of the Computerized National Identity Card of the applicant;

    (b) copy of national tax number (NTN) certificate; and

    (c) a duly sworn in affidavit stating therein that the information being provided is correct and nothing has been concealed there from and that in case any incorrect information is provided or any information is concealed he shall be liable to penal action under the laws for the time being in force.

    Submission of information and further action thereupon

    (1) An informer shall submit any information regarding concealment or evasion of tax leading to detection or collection of taxes, fraud, corruption or misconduct that is in his possession to the Chief Commissioner giving precise details of the alleged act along with all supporting evidences that are in his possession:

    Provided that no information shall be entertained unless it gives precise details of the alleged act and is accompanied with the supporting evidences.

    (2) On receipt of the information, the Chief Commissioner shall scrutinize the information and forward it to the concerned Commissioner.

    (3) On receipt of the information from the Chief Commissioner, the concerned Commissioner shall conduct such further enquiry as he may deem fit and submit his report to the Chief Commissioner.

    (4) On completion of the enquiry, the concerned Commissioner shall take such further action as may be required under the tax laws or any other law for the time being in force, as may be necessary on the basis of the facts of the case, and furnish his report to the Chief Commissioner.

    (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, an informer, who −

    (a) has knowingly provided false information under these rules; or

    (b) has provided the information under these rules with the intention to intimidate or blackmail a person, or to bring him into disrepute, or to otherwise cause him financial loss, shall be liable to punishment and fine under the tax laws and other laws for the time being in force.

  • FBR grants fourth extension to file returns for tax year 2019

    FBR grants fourth extension to file returns for tax year 2019

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday granted fourth extension for filing annual income tax returns for tax year 2019 up to December 31, 2019.

    The FBR issued Income Tax Circular No. 17/2019, to extend the date of filing of income tax returns/statements for tax year 2019.

    The date of filing of total income/statements of final taxation for individuals and associations of persons for the tax year 2019 which were due on September 30, 2019 and extended up to December 16, 2019 has been further extended up to December 31, 2019.

    The FBR further said that the date of filing of total income / statements of final taxation for companies for the tax year 2019, which were due on September 30, 2019 and extended up to December 16, 2019, in respect of those companies who have paid ninety five percent of the admitted tax liability on or before September 30, 2019, extended up to December 31, 2019.

  • Another date extension expected for filing returns tax year 2019

    Another date extension expected for filing returns tax year 2019

    ISLAMABAD: Tax managers and experts are expecting that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) likely to further extend the date for filing annual tax returns for tax year 2019.

    Today i.e. December 16, 2019 is the last date for filing returns other than companies for tax year 2019. The FBR on November 29, 2019 granted 16 days extension for filing income tax returns.

    The actual last day for filing income tax returns for tax year 2019 was September 30, 2019. On this date salaried persons, business individuals, Association Persons (AOPs) and corporate entities having special tax year are required to file income tax returns.

    However, due to small number of return filing and delayed issuance of return forms the FBR extended the date from September 30 to October 31. And then it was further extended to November 30, 2019. Now it is December 16, 2019.

    The received income tax returns are still below the expected numbers. As per Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) around 1.8 million tax returns were filed by December 13, 2019. The PTBA further pointed out that the number of return filers for tax year 2018 was increased to 2.71 million. Therefore, it was almost impossible for 0.9 million people to file their returns in remaining three days.

    The difference of 0.9 million has been calculated on the basis of returns filed last tax year and filed for tax year 2019.

    The actual number of persons required to file the income tax returns is very large. Under the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, every person who obtains National Tax Number (NTN) is required to file annual return. According to estimates around 4.7 million NTN had been issued by the FBR.

    Further, every taxable income or persons own certain properties or assets defined under the Ordinance are required to file their annual returns.

    In order to facilitate the taxpayers in filing their returns the law accepts CNIC as NTN.

    The tax experts and tax consultants/experts believed that the FBR further extend the date to December 31, 2019. Interestingly, this is also the last date for filing returns by corporate entities whose financial year ends on June 30.

    The PTBA also urged the FBR to extend the last date up to December 31, 2019.

    Some officials in the FBR said that in case the board not extends the date beyond December 16, 2019 then the board will grant general extension any time after January 01, 2020 when small traders will be give time to file their returns.

  • Cash payment above Rs15,000 as salary not to be treated as income

    Cash payment above Rs15,000 as salary not to be treated as income

    KARACHI: An amount above Rs15,000 paid in cash as salary will not be treated as income and employers will not be allowed adjustment.

    The FBR officials said that any salary paid or payable exceeding Rs15,000 per month other than by a crossed cheque or direct transfer of funds to the employee’s bank account will not be allowed deduction as expenditure to an employer.

    The FBR said that Section 21 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 explained the deductions that are not allowed.

    Section 21: Deductions not allowed

    Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, no deduction shall be allowed in computing the income of a person under the head “Income from Business” for —

    (a) any cess, rate or tax paid or payable by the person in Pakistan or a foreign country that is levied on the profits or gains of the business or assessed as a percentage or otherwise on the basis of such profits or gains;

    (b) any amount of tax deducted under Division III of Part V of Chapter X from an amount derived by the person;

    (c) any expenditure from which the person is required to deduct or collect tax under Part V of Chapter X or Chapter XII, unless the person has paid or deducted and paid the tax as required by Division IV of Part V of Chapter X:

    Provided that disallowance in respect of purchases of raw materials and finished goods under this clause shall not exceed twenty per cent of purchases of raw materials and finished goods:

    Provided further that recovery of any amount of tax under sections 161 or 162 shall be considered as tax paid.”

    (ca) any amount of commission paid or payable in respect of supply of products listed in the Third Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, where the amount of commission paid or payable exceeds 0.2 percent of gross amount of supplies thereof unless the person to whom commission is paid or payable, as the case may be, is appearing in the active taxpayer list under this Ordinance;

    (d) any entertainment expenditure in excess of such limits 2[or in violation of such conditions] as may be prescribed;

    (e) any contribution made by the person to a fund that is not a recognized provident fund3[,]4[approved pension fund], approved superannuation fund or approved gratuity fund;

    (f) any contribution made by the person to any provident or other fund established for the benefit of employees of the person, unless the person has made effective arrangements to secure that tax is deducted under section 149 from any payments made by the fund in respect of which the recipient is chargeable to tax under the head “Salary”;

    (g) any fine or penalty paid or payable by the person for the violation of any law, rule or regulation;

    (h) any personal expenditures incurred by the person;

    (i) any amount carried to a reserve fund or capitalised in any way;

    (j) any profit on debt, brokerage, commission, salary or other remuneration paid by an association of persons to a member of the association;

    (l) any expenditure for a transaction, paid or payable under a single account head which, in aggregate, exceeds fifty thousand rupees, made other than by a crossed cheque drawn on a bank or by crossed bank draft or crossed pay order or any other crossed banking instrument showing transfer of amount from the business bank account of the taxpayer:

    Provided that online transfer of payment from the business account of the payer to the business account of payee as well as payments through credit card shall be treated as transactions through the banking channel, subject to the condition that such transactions are verifiable from the bank statements of the respective payer and the payee:

    Provided further that this clause shall not apply in the case of—

    (a) expenditures not exceeding ten thousand rupees;

    (b) expenditures on account of —

    (i) utility bills;

    (ii) freight charges;

    (iii) travel fare;

    (iv) postage; and

    (v) payment of taxes, duties, fee, fines or any other statutory obligation;]

    (m) any salary paid or payable exceeding 3[fifteen] thousand rupees per month other than by a crossed cheque or direct transfer of funds to the employee’s bank account;

    (n) except as provided in Division III of this Part, any expenditure paid or payable of a capital nature; and

    “(o) any expenditure in respect of sales promotion, advertisement and publicity in excess of ten percent of turnover incurred by pharmaceutical manufacturers.”

  • Individuals falling under final tax not required to file annual returns

    Individuals falling under final tax not required to file annual returns

    KARACHI: Individuals or companies falling under final tax are not required to file annual income tax returns and their statement will be treated as assessment.

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  • Will FBR extend return filing date or opt to collect surcharge

    Will FBR extend return filing date or opt to collect surcharge

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has two options regarding income tax returns filing either to grant further extension or collect late filing surcharge, sources said on Friday.

    The last date for annual filing income tax for tax year 2019 is December 16, 2019. The date for filing income tax returns by salaried persons, business individuals, Association of Persons (AOPs) and companies having special financial year was September 30, 2019.

    However, the FBR granted first extension on September 30, 2019, second on October 31, 2019 and the third extension was granted on November 29, 2019.

    Normally the FBR extends the last date up to mid of December every year. However, for the tax year 2018 the date was extended up to August 09, 2019 due to various reasons including the amnesty scheme launched during the time period.

    The sources said that the FBR was eying to receive around 3.5 million income tax returns for tax year 2019 as it had received around 2.71 million returns for tax year 2018.

    According to a letter of Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA) the total return filing by November 26, 2019 for tax year 2019 was 1.6 million. So it is unlikely the FBR get around one million returns by December 16, 2019. If FBR eyes 3.5 million returns for tax year 2019 then the required number will be 1.8 million returns to be filed during the last extension or 16 days from December 01, 2019 to December 16, 2019.

    The sources said that the after the introduction of Tenth Schedule to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 the return filing had become very important and under the new schedule a person was required to pay 100 percent more withholding tax in case his name was not on the ATL.

    Besides, the FBR also introduced slabs of late filing surcharges for individuals, AOPs and companies. The sources said that in case date was not extended beyond December 16, 2019 then return filers would required to pay late surcharge in order to ensure their name on the ATL.

    Some sources believed that the FBR would extend the date for filing income tax returns for tax year 2019 as large segment of retailers and small business were required to file their returns and the FBR was working on a mechanism to resolve the issue with retailers and small traders.

    The sources said that in case return filing date is given to this segment then FBR would grant general extension to all the persons to file their returns.

  • Tenth Schedule enforces income tax return filing

    Tenth Schedule enforces income tax return filing

    KARACHI: The Tenth Schedule introduced to Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 has proved its importance as it compelled people for filing their income tax returns.

    The importance of this schedule can be proved as return filing witnessed record high of 2.71 million for tax year 2018. This schedule will remain productive for tax year 2019 and onward for forcing people making financial transactions to file their returns.

    “The newly introduced Tenth Schedule, which envisages the entire path to be adopted by the Inland Revenue Department to enforce the persons who make financial transactions yet choose not to file their returns of income,” officials of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said.

    They said that prior to Finance Act, 2019, a concept of non-filer existed in the Ordinance whereby higher tax rates of withholding were prescribed for persons who were non-filers. Such non-filers could claim adjustment of the higher tax collected at the time of filing of income tax returns.

    “The aim was to compel the non-filers to file their returns of income. However, it was observed that the non-filers, even though subjected to higher withholding rates, still had a propensity not to file their returns.”

    This proved detrimental to the exercise of expansion or tax base. This was due to the absence of an explicit provision specifying a standard procedure for action against such persons.

    Through the Finance Act, 2019, the concept of Non-Filers was done away with and a new concept regarding persons not appearing in the active taxpayers’ list was introduced. The officials said that this concept was a major paradigm shift from the erstwhile non-filer higher tax regime in that it not only penalized those persons not appearing in the ATL but also introduced an effective mechanism for enforcing returns from such persons.

    In this regard, a new section 100BA has been introduced which provides that collection or deduction of advance income tax, computation of income and tax payable thereon should be determined in accordance with the rules in the newly introduced the Tenth Schedule.

    Under this schedule persons whose names are not appearing in the ATL will be subjected to hundred percent increased rate of tax.

  • FBR allows filing Annexure H for July 2019 to claim sales tax refund

    FBR allows filing Annexure H for July 2019 to claim sales tax refund

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has allowed filing of statement containing stock position for July 2019 to taxpayers for claiming sales tax refunds.

    In an official memorandum issued on Thursday, the FBR condoned the time limit for filing of Annexure – H for the tax period July 2019 up to January 15, 2020.

    Annexure-H is a statement for providing stock position by taxpayers along with monthly sales tax return.

    The FBR from July 01, 2019 introduced expeditious payment of sales tax refunds within 72 hours subject to the true filing of Annexure – H.

    Recently, Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) highlighted this issue and urged the tax authorities to resolve for facilitating exporters and manufacturers.

    The KTBA pointed out that as per the amendments made in Sales Tax Rules, 2006 vide SRO no. 918(I)/2019 dated August 7, 2019, mechanism for expeditious processing of refund claim has been devised only for manufacturers-cum- exporters.

    As per the Rules, refund will be treated as having been filed only after filing of Annexure H of the Sales Tax return, for which deadline of 120 days has been prescribed in the Rules and the same can be extended for a period of 60 days on the basis of approval from the Commissioner.

    However, the rules are silent about the mechanism for processing of Sales Tax refunds incase Annexure H has not been filed by manufacturer-cum-exporter for any reason. Considering the legal and legitimate right of the taxpayer to claim adjustment / refund of the input tax, either of the following two option be considered by the FBR for facilitation of exporters:

    Allow filing of Annexure H without any time limit [present time limit of 4 months be abolished and taxpayer be allowed to claim refund as and when required] ii. Incase present limit of 4 months cannot be abolished, registered persons be allowed atleast to alternatively file refund on annual basis after the end of the tax year.

    Apart from the above, Annexure H is only being allowed to be filed to taxpayers who have filed the said Annexure from sales tax returns of July 2019 and onwards. Instead of claiming refund, some taxpayers have reported sales tax carried forward balance in their sales tax returns from July 2019 onwards. In case they now intend to file Annexure H from the current month,

    FBR’s online portal does not allow such taxpayers to enter opening balance of inventory / raw materials as the said field in blocked for editing. This limitation should be removed and taxpayers should be allowed to file Annexure H for any specific month, for which they intend to claim refund. From apparent mechanism being followed by the system, it appears that those taxpayers who have not filed Annexure H for the month of July 2019 will never be allowed to file Annexure H for any subsequent month. This apparent anomaly should be resolved at earliest.

  • Irrecoverable loans to be allowed tax concession

    Irrecoverable loans to be allowed tax concession

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) shall allow reduction in tax liability against bed debts where loans are irrecoverable, officials said.

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