Senate panel agrees to FBR’s plan for disabling mobile phones, SIMs to force filing of returns

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance has agreed to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to discontinue mobile phones or mobile phone sims to enforce filing of returns. The meeting of the committee presided over by Saleem Mandviwala on Thursday was informed by the FBR about the criticality of filing of tax return for documentation and the members of committee endorsed the new insertion of disabling of mobile phones or mobile phone sims to enforce filing of returns.

The FBR authorities while studying the special provisions relating to payment of tax through electricity connections apprised the committee that to broaden the tax net and facilitate small retailers fixed income tax is to be charged on electricity bill, through the provision of fix taxation the retailer will no longer be bound to declare its yearly turn over.

The FBR authorities also informed the committee that the FBR places penalty of 0.1 percent for each day of default after the due date for the filing of tax.

The committee regarding approval of non-profit status to entities appearing in table II of Clause (66) of Part 1 of the second schedule, reduced the time period to provide relaxation up to July 2024 by one year i.e., up till July 2023, while the amendment to provide for withdrawal of concession granted through Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022, re-characterisation of income and deductions and the amendment in minimum tax on the income of certain person in order to check the misuse, carry forward of minimum tax in succeeding years which has been withdrawn was accepted.

Furthermore, the amendment on the salary paid to an employee which has enabled certain tax credits elimination as part of personal income tax reform was also accepted by the committee.

The committee also accepted the new insertion of 1DC and 1DD which will enable for withholding of tax at source on services provided by international money transfer operators and withholding of tax at source on services provided by card network companies and payment gateways.

The committee was also apprised that the aforementioned newly inserted sections have been given final tax status on non-resident persons. The FBR officials briefed the committee on tax exemptions on the import of bulletproof buses and special vehicles for the security of foreigners working on the CPEC and major power projects.

He said that such special vehicles could be imported only after the NOC of the Interior Ministry and only federal and provincial governments would be authorised to import such vehicles. The FBR officials told the committee that now payments of over one million could only be made through digital means. The purpose is to record financial transactions. The committee was apprised that the new insertion of section 7A will provide certain industries’ undertakings brought under minimum tax regime on their import, to check misuse of import to raw material, was also accepted by the committee.

The business community also participated in the committee and forwarded their proposals to reduce prices on edible items by exemption of taxes in order to give sigh of relief to the general public.

The representative of the Bakers and Sweets Association proposed to exempt the 17pc sales tax earlier implemented on bakery items and sweets as the most commonly used edible for all the classes of society who has to pay an additional 9.5pc tax, the matter was referred to the anomaly committee for consideration of proposal. The committee also recommended imposing 20 percent taxes on sugary beverages juices implying that it is injurious to health.

The jewellers’ community also made appearance and requested to consider the appeal by jewellers for resolution of issues emanating from finance Bill 2022-23 including withholding tax to be charged 1pc instead of existing 9 percent on purchases of jewellers so that the value chain can be documented and lack of legally available raw material due to ambiguity in import policy order and high cost of duties and taxes.

Dr Shahzad Waseem, Leader of the opposition in the Senate, expressed his deep concern over the absence of the relevant ministers from the proceedings of the committee.

He said that non-participation of ministers in the proceedings of the committee was tantamount to contempt of the House.

Minister of State for Finance Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha joined the committee meeting and answered the questions of the members.

Leader of the opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem, quoting FATA/PATA, questioned that despite tax exemptions being given in these areas till 2023, notices are being sent to the people. The FBR chairman replied that FATA/PATA has only income tax and sales tax exemption and notices have been sent with reference to federal excise duty.

The committee deferred the clauses related to individual exemptions for further deliberation in presence of the Finance Minister. Senator Farooq Hamid Naek was of the opinion that no one should be given exemptions as a matter of justice and was in favour of removal of individual exemptions, Senator Naek while expressing his point further said that Pakistan must be the only country whose financial budget changes this rapidly and lamented the change of legislation with that of the changing governments.

The exemption under international agreements was reviewed by the committee and recommended to omit the resident person solely by reason of the performance of services under the agreement.

A new insertion in the exemption under international agreements will also give powers to the Federal Government to relax any rules and to provide for exemption on any grant in aid and development assistance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022