Regularisation of non-duty paid vehicles: government may announce one-time amnesty scheme

The government may announce one-time amnesty scheme for the regularisation of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles on payment of duties/ taxes and redemption fine before budget (2012-13). Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that Federal Board of Revenue is drafting an amnesty scheme for regularisation of non-duty paid vehicles.
In case scheme has been approved by policy makers, the same would be notified by the FBR. The FBR is also examining impact of similar kind of schemes issued in the past. At present, the FBR is in the processing of drafting the scheme for the regularisation of non-duty paid smuggled vehicles. The FBR would also discuss the legal and procedural implications of the proposed amnesty scheme with the Ministry of Finance, sources added.
Under the existing customs laws, the non-duty paid vehicles have been outrightly confiscated by the customs department and later these vehicles have been disposed off under the auction procedure. As per customs laws, there is no option of amnesty scheme for payment of reduced amount of duties and taxes for the regularisation of non-duty paid vehicles. In the past, the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court has directed the government to regularise non-duty paid vehicles of Gilgit-Baltistan on payment of duties and taxes.