The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Thursday issued simplified tax regime for the traders addressing all their major concerns with the objective to document traders without creating any kind of harassment. In this regard, the FBR has released the draft automated non-jurisdictional simplified tax regime for the traders. The scheme has been prepared after having practical research and discussion on the subject and exclusive interaction with the trade bodies.
A senior FBR official told Business Recorder that one of the unique features of the simplified tax scheme for traders are that they would not be required to work as withholding agent. The scheme is so simple that there is a simplified procedure for maintenance of records by the traders. The cash and bank book maintained shall be the only 'Books of Accounts' required to be kept by traders. Tax officials of the field formations have been barred from visiting shops. Traders are also not required to deduct the tax and deposit into the national kitty, he added.
The FBR said that it has been observed that traders' genuine problems regarding tax compliance have to be addressed. The issues which are considered compelling by all the stakeholders are: (i) complicated tax regime and equally complicated requirement of record keeping;(ii) complicated return form and wealth statement; (iii) personal interaction and personalised jurisdiction that has high probability of abuse of discretion even leading to corruption and harassment; (iv) and complicated requirements for compliance such as withholding etc.
In the proposed scheme all the four major concerns have been addressed. Proposals from stakeholders as well as general public are invited for any modification in the above scheme. After public review the scheme will be put before the Federal Cabinet for final approval. It is expected that this reformed simplified procedure will be a new beginning on this subject, FBR added.
For the purposes of this scheme a trader including retailer and wholesaler shall bean individual or association of persons carrying on business of buying and supplying goods to the general public or other businesses for the purpose of consumption, and has turnover less than Rs 50 million; self-invested equity less than Rs 50 million; cost of fixed assets less than Rs 100 million; number of employees less than or equal to five; but does not include persons covered under small shopkeepers scheme under section 99B of the Ordinance.
The thresholds as prescribed shall be increased by ten percent each year to account for economic progression in business. The Federal Government shall prescribe the maximum limit when a person under this scheme shall be required to observe general provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, FBR said.
Under the new procedure, a person accounting for income under the head business opting under this scheme shall derive income when it is received and shall incur expenditure when it is paid on cash basis connected with business. The excess of receipts over expenditure shall be considered as income liable to tax except for the adjustment of opening and closing stocks on a consistent basis if the taxpayer so desires for such an adjustment.
For registration and filing of return, the FBR said that all persons who are not already registered with FBR will be registered under this scheme shall submit the registration form on IRIS through FBR website.(2)Person who holds NTN but has not filed Return in preceding five tax years may also submit registration form.
Each person falling under this scheme shall electronically file a simplified Return of income accompanied with evidence of payment of due tax and simplified wealth statement. Such return filed shall be treated as assessment order under section 120 for the purposes of the Ordinance.
All persons opting for under this scheme shall be required to file Return by September 30, 2019. Return and Wealth Statement filed may be revised without approval of CIR within sixty days. There shall be national (central) jurisdiction in respect of persons falling under this scheme. All persons falling under this scheme shall be communicated through prescribed automated system.
The Income computed under Rule 3shall be chargeable to under the head 'Income from Business' and tax payable thereon shall be computed at the rate prescribed under Division I, Part I of the First Schedule to the Ordinance. In case of loss for the year or tax liability less than one and half percent of turnover, minimum tax equal to one and half percent of receipts shall be payable. Tax paid under any provision of the Ordinance shall be minimum tax.
An association of persons shall be liable to tax separately from the members of the association. The amount received by a member of the association in the capacity as member out of the income of the association shall be exempt from tax, FBR said.
No action under this Section will be undertaken prior to the approval of a Committee constituted by FBR consisting of three persons including a member of trade body not being the employee of the Government, FBR said.
No action under this Section will be undertaken prior to the approval of a Committee constituted by FBR consisting of three persons including a member of trade body not being the employee of the Government.8.Dispute Resolution and Appeals.
Where a person is dissatisfied with examination conducted, the matter shall be referred to dispute resolution committee to be formed under this scheme. The decision of dispute resolution Committee shall be binding on Federal Board of Revenue and not on the taxpayer;(3) Person dissatisfied with examination conducted or decision of the DRC can file appeal under section 127 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 after payment of 25 percent of tax payable.
Provisions of Par III of Chapter VIII shall remain applicable on cases where there is a dispute on account of examination as undertaken under this scheme.
The FBR said that person falling under this scheme shall not be required to act as withholding agent under any provision of the Ordinance.
Any person falling under this scheme may at its own option pay advance tax equal to one fourth of the tax liability as per last tax year in four equal instalments.
Persons falling under scheme shall keep and maintain books of accounts. The cash and bank book so maintained shall be the only 'Books of Accounts' required to be kept by the persons falling under this scheme for the purposes of compliance of this Ordinance
Under this scheme, "Books of Accounts" means the prescribed cash/bank book containing all entries in respect of monies received and paid including those directly entered into bank account.
"Fixed Assets" means under this scheme, property of any kind connected with business held by a person but does not include stock-in-trade. "Self-invested Equity" means personal funds invested in trade/business other than accumulated profits. "Turnover" means receipts from the sale of goods.(5) All other expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meaning as assigned to them under the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
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