The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has finalised the annual plan for collection of additional Rs 15 billion during 2008-09 through administrative measures, including strict enforcement of tax laws.
Sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that the Board-in-council meeting would give final approval of the plan to be submitted by FBR Member Sales Tax, Member Customs and Member Direct Taxes. The revenue collection target for 2008-09 also includes administrative measures of Rs 15 billion, with Rs 5 billion each for customs duty, direct taxes and sales tax.
According to the plan, major administrative measures on indirect taxes side cover recovery of sales tax and federal excise duty arrears and sales tax registration of those potential units which are liable to registration but are not registered with the department.
Other measures include recovery of taxes from registered units which are within the tax net but are not paying the due amount of sales tax. Notices are to be issued to the short-filers of sales tax and federal excise for recovery of the un-paid amount and improve compliance level by the persons, which are registered, but are not regularly filing sales tax returns.
The collectors of customs would focus on different levies and surcharges being collected at the import stage under other Acts etc. There are additional customs duties which would also be instrumental in generating additional revenue during 2008-09.
Administrative measures include imposition of fee/charges on services being provided by the customs department at the ports etc. These are not main streamline levies, but contribute some amount during current fiscal. For example, collection of Rs 10 per filing of Goods Declaration (GD) form by the importer; warehousing charges; parking charges on auction of vehicles by the Model Customs Collectorates (MCC) and collection of some amount on issuance of licences to the export-oriented units.
Similarly, customs department is providing free of cost services to the business community at ports, airports and public/private bonded warehouses. Thus, collectors of customs might adopt any measures for generating an additional amount of Rs 5 billion in 2008-09.
Enforcement actions include anti-smuggling measures, which ultimately result in auction of confiscated goods on realistic reserve price. Post-importation audit and audit of bonded warehouses are also covered under the enforcement measures.
On the direct taxes side, administrative measures include creation of new income tax demands through desk audit; settlement of past income tax arrears; increasing filers of income tax returns along with the due amount of tax and ensure collection of withholding taxes at the import stage.
Proper audit of cases selected under the Universal Self Assessment Scheme (USAS) would also be covered under the measures to improve direct taxes collection.
Sources said that the government has empowered FBR to levy any fee or charges for making expenditure on the provision of enhanced facilities for the taxpayers, or direct cost reimbursement of expenses, and reasonable return on investment or profit; where services are provided in the matters relating to any fiscal law.
According to the FBR, fiscal laws mean a general reference to the laws relating to tax matters, including but not being limited to, the Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), Sales Tax Act 1990, Income Tax Ordinance 2001(XLIX of 2001) and the Federal Excise Act 2005, and any other law having nexus with taxation as the federal government may by notification specify.
The FBR is also empowered to implement the provisions of all the fiscal laws for the time being in force and to exercise all powers provided under the provisions of the fiscal laws and to take any action, make policy, issue rules or guidelines for the purpose to make the implementation of the fiscal laws clearer and transparent.
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