Some sugar mill owners have claimed that 90 percent of sugar dealers in country's wholesale markets are not registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Sources in Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) said that most of the sugar dealers do not carry National Tax Number (NTN) to evade taxes. There are some others who have not obtained NTN numbers with a view to hiding their assets such as properties.
About 90 percent of the dealers of this commodity across the country are not registered with FBR and only 10 percent dealers, which are either recognised or associated with different wholesaler associations, are registered with the board and the authority has issued tax numbers to them, the sources maintained.
Sources said the manufacturers of the commodity sell their stocks to unregistered dealers as they pay more amount than the registered ones because the latter category of traders is free from the obligations of taxes. The sources said the association would ensure the supply of white refined sugar to the wholesale market. However, the monopoly of the unregistered dealers in the market would not allow the sale of sugar at Rs 40/kg to take place.
They urged the government to take necessary action against unregistered dealers and to bring them under the tax net. Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA) Anis Majeed has confirmed that many unregistered dealers are working in the wholesale market.
Dealers registered with any reputable organisation and recognised wholesalers of the commodity are issued national tax number by tax collecting authority and they are regularly paying taxes to the exchequer, he added. He said the traders associations instructed its members to regularly pay the tax and turn down the application for membership of traders not conforming to legal obligation of registration with the tax authorities.
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