Tag: NPO

  • Pakistan grants tax exemption to charitable organizations

    Pakistan grants tax exemption to charitable organizations

    KARACHI: Pakistan has granted exemption from tax on income of various charitable organizations through Finance Act, 2022.

    The tax exemption has been granted under Second Schedule of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    READ MORE: New tax rates on car registration from July 01, 2022

    According to interpretation of Finance Act, 2022 by PwC A. F. Ferguson & Co. the income of following organizations has been exempted from income tax by way of inclusion in Table I of Clause (66):

    (i) The Pakistan Global Sukuk Programme Company Limited;

    (ii) Karandaaz Pakistan from tax year 2015 onwards;

    (iii) Public Private Partnership Authority for tax year 2022 and subsequent four tax years; and

    (iv) Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan.

    READ MORE: Finance Act 2022 notifies tax rates on disposal of securities

    It is apt to mention here that income derived by The Pakistan Global Sukuk Programme Company Limited was earlier exempted from income tax through Notification SRO 1457(I)/2021 dated November 11, 2021; however, through the Act, such tax exemption has been ratified by the Parliament.

    Further, the following Organizations, earlier entitled to tax exemption subject to fulfillment of conditions specified in section 100C of the Ordinance, are now extended unconditional tax exemption as was earlier available to them prior to Finance Act, 2020:

    (i) Pakistan Mortgage Refinance Company Limited;

    READ MORE: Finance Act 2022 revises tax rates for salaried persons

    (ii) Pakistan Sweet Homes Angels and Fairies Place; and

    (iii) Dawat-e-Islami Trust.

    Further, the following Organizations have been extended tax exemption subject to fulfillment of conditions specified in section 100C:

    (i) Burhani Qarzan Hasnan Trust;

    (ii) Saifee Hospital Karachi; and

    (iii) Safiyah Girls Taalim Trust.

    READ MORE: Proposal of final tax regime for commercial importers rejected

  • ECC approves policy for regulation of NGOs/NPOs receiving foreign funds

    ECC approves policy for regulation of NGOs/NPOs receiving foreign funds

    ISLAMABAD: Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting held on Wednesday approved the ‘Policy for Regulation of NGOs/NPOs receiving Foreign Contributions-2021’.

    The NGO Policy, 2021 has been designed with the aim to fostering a sense of partnership between government and non-government sectors.

    Furthermore, under the new policy approval process (for registration) will be completed within 60 days, maximum, through online submission of application and consultation, doing away with manual processing and eliminating long delays.

    The new policy seeks to expand space for credible organizations for a playing an effective role in socio-economic development while detering NGOs with dubious credentials.

    ECC appreciated the efforts of Economic Affairs Division for designing the much needed policy and directed that any further suggestions/positive feedback from all the relevant stakeholders may also be incorporated in the policy and a report on the same may be shared with the forum in 4-8 weeks.

    Federal minister for finance and revenue, Shaukat tarin, chaired the meeting of the economic coordination committee (ECC) of the cabinet.

    Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Sawati, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Division Omar Ayub Khan, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Privatization Muhammad Mian Soomro, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr. Ishrat Hussain, SAPM on Power Tabish Gauhar, SAPM on Finance and Revenue, Dr. Waqar Masood, Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Reza Baqir, concerned Federal Secretaries and senior officers participated in the meeting.

    ECC approved the request of Ministry of National Food Security and Research for the provision of 500,000MT of wheat to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa out of PASSCO stock during the crop year 2021-22 on the usual terms and conditions. All charges, including incidental charges will be borne by the Food Department, KP. Similarly, 500,000MT imported wheat was also allocated to Food Department, KP to meet the provincial requirement.

    ECC approved the summary of Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for allowing operational losses upto a maximum of 0.5% for gasoline transportation through WOP & MFM pipelines through Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM). The same will be adjusted against actual based on physical inventory of pipelines to be undertaken periodically. The actual rate will be determined by OGRA based on actual losses and excess margin would be brought before ECC. ECC also approved the request of Ministry of National Food Security & Research for import of 3MMT of wheat subject to approval by PPRA Board for building up the strategic reverses of wheat in the country.

    ECC approved US$ 17.3m for PIA-IL for payment of recurring as well as one-off liabilities in respect of Roosevelt Hotel New York, USA, as verified by the Auditor and recommended by PIA-IL Board. ECC also directed that Finance, Privatization Commission, PIA/Aviation Division should consult with each other and propose a strategy in a month’s time for deciding the future of the asset.

    The following Technical Supplementary Grants were approved by the ECC:

    i) Rs. 1.370 billion for the Finance Division to provide wheat subsidy to the Government of Gilgit Baltistan.

    ii) Rs. 32.097 million for the Ministry of Industries and Production to meet the expenditure of its various Organizations.

    iii) Rs. 1.6 billion for the Ministry of Industries and Production for clearing the bill of SNGPL for the month of May 2021

     iv) Rs. 274.161 million for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to meet the shortage of budget of PTV Multan, AJK, English News Channel and APPC.

    v) Rs. 570 million for the Ministry of Interior for Security enhancement at Pakistan-Afghanistan Border.

    vi) Rs. 56.341 million for the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for its various miscellaneous expenditure.

    vii) Rs. 145 million for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority to meet its various employee related expenses.

    viii) Rs. 2.467 billion for Revenue Division for meeting the requirements of Pakistan Raises Revenue Program.

    ix) Rs. 834 million for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission to meet its employee related expenditure.

    x) Rs.49 billion for Karachi Coastal Power Project Unit 1 & 2 as requested by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

  • NPOs require to declare donation details above Rs5,000 to avoid cancellation of approval

    NPOs require to declare donation details above Rs5,000 to avoid cancellation of approval

    ISLAMABAD: Non-profit organizations are required to provide details of all donations above Rs5,000 in order to avoid cancellation of approval granted by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), sources said on Wednesday.

    The sources said that under tax laws, an institutions, fund, trust, society or any other non-profit organization established in Pakistan for religious, educational, charitable, welfare or development proposes or for the promotion of an amateur sport shall require approval of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue (CIR) FBR.

    Under the law the commissioner has also been authorized to withdraw the approval to NPOs on the basis that the income tax returns were not filed or supported documents have not been provided along with the income tax returns.

    The sources said the NPOs are require to declare details of names and addresses of the persons from whom donations, contributions, subscriptions etc. exceeding Rs5,000 have been received during the tax year.

    Further, it is also mandatory that statement should contain the names and addresses of donees and beneficiaries etc. to whom payments, services etc. exceeding Rs5,000 have been made during the tax year.

    The sources said that the NPOs should provide statement of audited balance sheet and statement of accounts.

    Besides, the NPOs are required to provide a detailed performance evaluation report after every three years. “Provided that where such detailed performance evaluation report is not submitted on or before September 30 following every three tax years, the commissioner shall issue a show cause notice for withdrawal of approval to the concerned organization.”

    The NPOs are required to keep details of deduction of withholding tax and provide to the FBR as required under Section 165 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.

    Further, the names, CNIC/NTN, last income declared, tax year and addresses of the promoters, directors, trustees, president, secretary, treasurer, manager and other office bearers, as the case may be, of the organization and indicating clearly their family relationship with each other.

  • FBR issues list of 3,184 registered NPOs, NGOs

    FBR issues list of 3,184 registered NPOs, NGOs

    ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a list of 3,184 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) that are registered with the tax authorities.

    The income tax regime has been revised for NPOs and charitable organizations and tax credit shall be available to such organizations on filing of income tax returns.

    The FBR conducted fresh scrutiny of NPOs and NGOs and then registered the organizations.

    Section 100C of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 deals with tax credit for NPOs, which is as follow:

    Section 100C: Tax credit for certain persons.

    Sub-Section (1): The income of Non-profit organizations, trusts or welfare institutions, as mentioned in sub-section (2) shall be allowed a tax credit equal to one hundred per cent of the tax payable, including minimum tax and final taxes payable under any of the provisions of this Ordinance, subject to the following conditions, namely:-

    (a) return has been filed;

    (b) tax required to be deducted or collected has been deducted or collected and paid;

    (c) withholding tax statements for the immediately preceding tax year have been filed;

    (d) the administrative and management expenditure does not exceed 15 percent of the total receipts:

    “Provided that clause (d) shall not apply to a non-profit organization, if—

    (a) charitable and welfare activities of the non-profit organization have commenced for the first time within last three years; and

    (b) total receipts of the non-profit organization during the tax year are less than one hundred million Rupees”;

    (e) approval of Commissioner has been obtained as per the requirement of clause (36) of section 2:

    Provided that this clause shall take effect from the first day of July, 2020; and

    (f) none of the assets of trusts or welfare institutions confers, or may confer, a private benefit to the donors or family, children or author of the trust or his descendents or the maker of the institution or to any other person:

    Provided that where such private benefit is conferred, the amount of such benefit shall be added to the income of the donor:

    Sub-Section (1A): Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), surplus funds of non-profit organization shall be taxed at a rate of ten percent.

    (1B) For the purpose of sub-section (1A), surplus funds mean funds or monies:

    (a) not spent on charitable and welfare activities during the tax year;

    (b) received during the tax year as donations, voluntary contributions, subscriptions and other incomes;

    (c) which are more than twenty-five percent of the total receipts of the non-profit organization received during the tax year; an

    (d) are not part of restricted funds.

    Explanation.- For the purpose of this sub-section, “restricted funds” mean any fund received by the organization but could not be spent and treated as revenue during the year due to any obligation placed by the donor.

    Sub-Section (2): Persons and incomes eligible for tax credit under this section include-

    (a) any income of a trust or welfare institution or non-profit organization from donations, voluntary contributions, subscriptions, house property, investments in the securities of the Federal Government and so much of the income chargeable under the head “income from business” as is expended in Pakistan for the purposes of carrying out welfare activities:

    Provided that in the case of income under the head “income from business”, the exemption in respect of income under the said head shall not exceed an amount which bears to the income, under the said head, the same proportion as the said amount bears to the aggregate of the incomes from the aforesaid sources of income.

    (b) a trust administered under a scheme approved by the Federal Government in this behalf and established in Pakistan exclusively for the purposes of carrying out such activities as are for the benefit and welfare of—

    (i) ex-servicemen and serving personnel, including civilian employees of the Armed Forces, and their dependents; or

    (ii) ex-employees and serving personnel of the Federal Government or a Provincial Government and their dependents, where the said trust is administered by a

    committee nominated by the Federal Government or, as the case may be, a Provincial Government;

    (d) income of a university or other educational institution being run by a non-profit organization existing solely for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit;

    (e) any income which is derived from investments in securities of the Federal Government, profit on debt from scheduled banks and microfinance banks, grant received from Federal Government or Provincial Government or District Governments, foreign grants and house property held under trust or other legal obligations wholly, or in part only, for religious or charitable purposes and is actually applied or finally set apart for application thereto:

    Provided that nothing in this clause shall apply to so much of the income as is not expended within Pakistan:

    Provided further that if any sum out of the amount so set apart is expended outside Pakistan, it shall be included in the total income of the tax year in which it is so expended or of the year in which it was set apart, whichever is the greater, and the provisions of section 122 shall not apply to any assessment made or to be made in pursuance of this proviso.

    Explanation.— Notwithstanding anything contained in the Mussalman Wakf Validating Act, 1913 (VI of 1913), or any other law for the time being in force or in the instrument relating to the trust or the institution, if any amount is set apart, expended or disbursed for the maintenance and support wholly or partially of the family, children or descendents of the author of the trust or the donor or, the maker of the institution or for his own maintenance and support during his life time or payment to himself or his family, children, relations or descendents or for the payment of his or their debts out of the income from house property dedicated, or if any expenditure is made other than for charitable purposes, in each case such expenditure, provision, setting apart, payment or disbursement shall not be deemed, for the purposes of this clause, to be for religious or charitable purposes; or

    (f) any income of a religious or charitable institution derived from voluntary contributions applicable solely to religious or charitable purposes of the institution:

    Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to the income of a private religious trust which does not ensure for the benefit of the public.”

  • SECP holds awareness session for NPOs on AML/CFT

    SECP holds awareness session for NPOs on AML/CFT

    ISLAMABAD: Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has conducted an awareness session on Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorism Financing (CFT) in collaboration with of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), a statement said on Friday.

    The SECP said that the awareness session was conducted AML/CFT obligations of non-profit organizations (NPOs) licensed under section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017, for Lahore-based registered intermediaries.

    Around 100 participants from the NPO sector, registered intermediaries and ICAP members were in attendance.

    An SECP official made a detailed presentation on the AML/CFT regulatory requirements as well as the mechanism for implementation of United Nations Sanctions Regime under resolutions 1267 and 1373 for designation of terrorist organizations and individuals.

    The session focused on the relevant recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force as well as findings of the National Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment, including directions, channels and sources of terror finance, risk assessment of NPOs, and various policy, legislative and administrative measures for terror financing risk mitigation.

    It also helped participants in improving the understanding of suspicious transaction reporting requirements under the AML/CFT framework.

    The session also discussed the regulatory measures contained in the regulations for NPOs and intermediaries to prevent money laundering and terror financing abuses, supplemented by the best practices and recommendations contained in the AML/CFT guidelines for NPOs issued by it.

    The official emphasized the fact that regulatory action against non-compliant NPOs is a regular feature of the SECP’s enforcement strategy, which will continue in the future.