The details of income tax exemptions granted to importers totalling Rs 6.5 billion are missing, which reflecting unprecedented misuse of the facility on clearance of imported goods under Pakistan Customs Computerised System (PACCs) during 2007-08.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the FBR has barred the field formations from to issuing exemption certificates to importers at the import stage, which has been causing huge loss to the national exchequer.
They said that the Director General Regional Tax Office (RTO), Karachi, informed the board about the implications of tax exemptions obtained by importers during the current fiscal year. The analysis of PACCS data showed that exemptions have been granted by the customs authorities to the extent of tax deduction of Rs 6.5 billion, but their details are missing in the computerised database.
This clearly unveil large-scale exemption enjoyed by importers on the basis of illegal exemption certificates. Sources said that the matter needs to be investigated to collect complete data on the exemption amounting Rs 6.5 billion for verification purposes. The FBR is pursuing the policy to curtail exemptions, including lifetime exemptions available to some sectors. Contrary to this, the business of illegal exemption certificates seemed to be still applicable in the field formations, resulting in massive revenue loss.
Sources said that the FBR Chairman took serious note of continuing issuance of exemption certificate on such imports which were mostly misused. In fact, the so-called manufacturers were engaged in making commercial imports putting the actual commercial importers at a disadvantageous position.
The FBR Chairman directed the Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) to generate city-wise lists of importers liable to tax at the rate of 1-2 percent where exemption certificate has been issued or where no tax has been withheld by customs department.
Sources said that all DGs are examining cases of exemption certificates to verify the actual capacity of the manufacturer, total amount of imports and whether such amount has been incorporated into the books of account of importers or not.
Sources said that deduction of tax on import at the rate of 1-2 registered a sharp fall during first nine months of 2007-08. All directors-general of Large Taxpayer Units (LTUs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) have started analysis of imports to ascertain reasons behind this shortfall. This decrease has also been related to the issuance of illegal exemption certificates.
It is important to mention that there is no effective mechanism at sea/dry ports to verify tax exemption certificates issued to the importers for checking evasion of income tax on the clearance of imported consignments.
The authenticity of exemption certificates issued by the commissioners also needs to be verified for checking massive tax evasion by the importers. The income tax is collected by the collector of customs at imports stage on duty paid value of imports. It is deposited in National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) along with other taxes on imports.
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