Importers involved in tax evasion to face action

Collectors of customs would register FIRs against the importers involved in massive tax evasion through under-invoicing of goods. Official sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that the board had given approval during the last collectors of customs conference to deal with the phenomenon of under-invoicing strictly.
The CBR has directed collectors of customs to immediately enforce the following measures for improving revenue collection in the remaining quarters of 2006-2007.
First, section 25 and 25A of the Customs Act, 1969 to be fully enforced for determining the value of imported consignments in cases where declared customs value is low. In these cases, the customs would exercise powers to confiscate the imported goods with wrongly declared values. Customs officers would entertain offer by any other person to buy these goods at substantially higher value than the declared customs value in the bill of entry or goods declaration form.
Secondly, collectors would register FIRs where sufficient legal backing is available to punish importers involved in massive under-invoicing. The cases framed against the importers must have sufficient legal backing to withstand the pleading. All major cases of under-invoicing would be forcefully pursued in the courts by collectors.