Tax officials authorized to access taxpayers’ premises

Tax officials authorized to access taxpayers’ premises

Sales Tax Act, 1990 has authorized tax officials to access the premises of a taxpayer. Besides the officials have also direct access to stocks, accounts and records of taxpayers.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the Sales Tax Act, 1990 updated up to June 30, 2021. The Act incorporated amendments brought through Finance Act, 2021.

Following is the text of section 38 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990:

38. Authorised officers to have access to premises, stocks, accounts and records – (1) Any officer authorised in this behalf by the Board or the Commissioner shall have free access including real-time electronic access to business or manufacturing premises, registered office or any other place where any stocks, business records or documents required under this Act are kept or maintained belonging to any registered person or a person liable for registration or whose business activities are covered under this Act or who may be required for any inquiry or investigation in any tax fraud committed by him or his agent or any other person; and such officer may, at any time, inspect the goods, stocks, records, data, documents, correspondence, accounts and statements, utility bills, bank statements, information regarding nature and sources of funds or assets with which his business is financed, and any other records or documents, including those which are required under any of the Federal, Provincial or local laws maintained in any form or mode and may take into his custody such records, statements, diskettes, documents or any part thereof, in original or copies thereof in such form as the authorised officer may deem fit against a signed receipt.

(2) The registered person, his agent or any other person specified in sub-section (1) shall be bound to answer any question or furnish such information or explanation as may be asked by the authorised officer.

(3) The department of’ direct and indirect taxes or any other Government department, local bodies, autonomous bodies, corporations or such other institutions shall supply requisite information and render necessary assistance to the authorised officer in the course of inquiry or investigation under this section.

(4) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Board may make rules relating to electronic real-time access for audit or a survey of persons liable to tax.

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