Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 has defined types of income included in dividend distribution for the purpose of tax levy.
The Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 updated up to June 30, 2020 issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), explained that dividend includes —
(a) any distribution by a company of accumulated profits to its shareholders, whether capitalised or not, if such distribution entails the release by the company to its shareholders of all or any part of the assets including money of the company;
(b) any distribution by a company, to its shareholders of debentures, debenture-stock or deposit certificate in any form, whether with or without profit, to the extent to which the company possesses accumulated profits whether capitalised or not;
(c) any distribution made to the shareholders of a company on its liquidation, to the extent to which the distribution is attributable to the accumulated profits of the company immediately before its liquidation, whether capitalised or not;
(d) any distribution by a company to its shareholders on the reduction of its capital, to the extent to which the company possesses accumulated profits, whether such accumulated profits have been capitalised or not;
(e) any payment by a private company as defined in the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984)] or trust of any sum (whether as representing a part of the assets of the company or trust, or otherwise) by way of advance or loan to a shareholder or any payment by any such company or trust on behalf, or for the individual benefit, of any such shareholder, to the extent to which the company or trust, in either case, possesses accumulated profits; or
(f) remittance of after tax profit of a branch of a foreign company operating in Pakistan;
but does not include —
(i) a distribution made in accordance with sub-clause] (c) or (d) in respect of any share for full cash consideration, or redemption of debentures or debenture stock, where the holder of the share or debenture is not entitled in the event of liquidation to participate in the surplus assets;
(ii) any advance or loan made to a shareholder by a company in the ordinary course of its business, where the lending of money is a substantial part of the business of the company;
(iii) any dividend paid by a company which is set off by the company against the whole or any part of any sum previously paid by it and treated as a dividend within the meaning of sub-clause] (e) to the extent to which it is so set off; and
(iv) remittance of after tax profit by a branch of Petroleum Exploration and Production (E&P) foreign company, operating in Pakistan.
