FBR, government urged to simplify ST refund claim procedure

Pakistan Tanners Association chairman Sheikh Afzal Hussain has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and government of Pakistan to simplify the procedure for submission of sales tax claims thru FBR portal without unnecessary Annexure particularly Annexure 'H,' enabling member exporters to get the eligibility to yield their sales refund claims which are pending for last 4 Months (from July 2019).

He said FBR's Sales Tax refund programme - 'Faster' - is completely ineffective/non-operational having cumbersome procedure with the submission of numerous Annexure particularly Annexure H, which is at par with the impossible for submission by our member exporters, resultantly no one could be succeeded in submission for ST refund claims.

Majority of exporters are rendering unable to execute their business activities because of severe financial stringencies even not having fund/cash amount to pay the Import Duty/Taxes for the release of import items/containers of basic raw materials/chemicals for the industry. Sheikh Afzal Hussain said FBR has issued promissory notes against the ST refund, which are not being encashed/discounted by Banks concerned with Kibor rates and consequently the promissory notes are finally termed to be a 'piece of paper' only.