The importers have started filing goods declaration (GD) electronically for clearance of consignments under the ''One Customs'' project.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Friday that the testing of the e-filing of GDs under the ''One Customs'' has been started at Lahore dry port. On the first day, 8-10 GDs were filed electronically.
The pre-testing of the paperless clearance process would continue for 30 days at Lahore, after which the project would be replicated all over the country.
They said that the e-filing of goods declaration would end direct interaction between the customs officials and the importers/exporters.
Now, the CBR members could check the Starr refund program without unnecessary communication with the field offices. All queries would be responded in no time due to the installation of the entire system at the Board.
The Board has already put in place an effective monitoring system for issuance of refund through Starr program. This would ensure the issuance refund within the laid down criteria. This has also ended the discretionary powers of field officials to overrule the system for issuance of sales tax refund.
The centralised system for income tax would become operational by the end of December. The Board has not purchased this system from any company, but has improved the existing systems.
However, the Board wants to purchase the Integrated Tax Management System (ITMS) to centralise sales tax, customs and income tax data.