Valuation to be issued to plug loopholes in sales tax collection on imported consumer goods

Valuation to be issued to plug loopholes in sales tax collection on imported consumer goods

KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to issued sales tax valuation in order to plug revenue leakages on imported consumer items, sources said.

The sources said that the FBR had identified massive misdeclaration and under invoicing on imported consumer items falling under Third Schedule of Sales Tax Act, 1990.

In the latest budget 2019/2020, an amendment was introduced to Sales Tax Act, 1990 under which printing of retail price was made mandatory on imported consumer goods.

The measure was introduced to end the assumed prices in order to recover sales tax on fixed retail prices on imported items.

The law has been applicable since July 01, 2019 but due to difficulties faced by importers of such goods the FBR allowed relief in declaration without printing of retail prices subject to some conditions.

The FBR issued Sales Tax General Order (STGO) on August 07, 2019 that the retail price, if not printed at import stage, can be printed at the port of import.

According to the STGO: “If that is also not possible, the importer shall undertake to print the retail price after clearance of goods and shall pay sales tax on retail price which shall not be less than 130 percent of the customs value increased by assessed customs duties, excise duty and other applicable taxes and charges excluding sales tax.”

The sources said that tax offices in Karachi conducted survey and found the selling price of imported consumer items was much higher than the declared value at customs clearance stage.

They said that the finding of the survey had been sent to the FBR headquarters for taking further action.

The printing of retail prices is mandatory for importers on items such as tea, juices, perfumes, household electrical goods, including air conditioners, refrigerators, deep freezers, televisions, recorders and players, electric bulbs, tube-lights, electric fans, electric irons, washing machines and telephone sets. These items shall also include house hold gas appliance, including cooking range, ovens, geysers and gas heaters.

Besides items such as foam mattresses, paints, lubricating oils, storage batteries, tyers, motor cycles and auto rickshaws have also been included in the regime of printed retail prices.

The sources said that as per latest development the FBR had decided to issue valuation of such imported consumer goods in order to realize correct sales tax at import stage.