Some units belonging to banking sector, services, pharmaceuticals, textiles, POL products, chemicals, automobiles, sugar, insurance, hotels and iron and steel, falling within the jurisdiction of Karachi, Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) are not filing returns electronically.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that, Karachi LTU Director General Mukhtar Ahmed Gondal has submitted a report on e-filing of returns to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), stating that 303 big companies had not filed returns electronically in November 2007. The data of November was compiled in December 2007 and has been submitted to the board in January 2008 for consideration.
Around 284 companies are e-filers in the jurisdiction of Karachi LTU. Some of the non-compliant sectors, including banks, have shown poor compliance as far as e-filing is concerned. The summary of monthly e-filers for November 2007 showed that 30 banks were registered for e-filing facility against total 32 banks operating in the jurisdiction of Karachi LTU. Twenty-two banks were not filing returns through e-filing facility, and only 10 were filing returns electronically.
The board has now approached the Pakistan Bankers Association (PBA) for e-filing statements. As a result of interactive sessions between banks and the LTU, Karachi, banks have also agreed to e-file salary statements in the first phase.
Sources said that the PBA and the FBR have agreed that all banks would file their income tax returns/statements electronically. The non-salary statements although carry costumer's secrecy elements, the banks have agreed to file non-salary statements excluding client-wise information pertaining to deduction of tax under section 151 'profit on debt' and under section 231A (cash withdrawal) of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
Data further showed that 82 service providers are registered with the LTU Karachi against 91 units. Out of total registered units, 48 are not e-filing returns against 43 filers during this period. Out of total 65 pharmaceutical companies, 54 are registered for e-filing purposes. Out of this, 40 are not e-filing returns against 25 filers.
The LTU Karachi has further informed the board that the 56 textile units have been registered for e-filing, against 76 units. Around 52 are non-filers whereas 24 are filing returns electronically.
In case of POL products, all 38 companies are registered with the LTU, Karachi. Out of this, 19 are e-filing returns and 19 are not filing returns electronically. Out of 25 registered units in chemical sector, 16 are e-filing returns against nine non-filers units.
Total 13 companies in automobile sector are not filing returns against 15 filers. In case of hotels and restaurants, 11 are registered with the LTU, Karachi. Six are not e-filing against five filers of income tax returns, electronically.
Sources said that 23 sugar mills are registered for e-filing against 28 units. Fifteen have not e-filed returns as compared to 13 returns submitted electronically. Out of 16 registered insurance companies, 11 are e-filing returns against 7 who have not filed returns, electronically.
Out of 10 cement manufacturers registered with the LTU Karachi for e-filing, six are filing returns and six are not filing, returns electronically. Total six units belonging to energy/paper sector have filed returns electronically against four companies not e-filing.
Out of 12 iron and steel units registered with LTU for e-filing, 11 are not filing returns, electronically whereas five have filed returns through electronic means. Similarly, six companies in communication/IT/Computer sector have not e-filed returns against 4 filers.
Sources said that eight units belonging to fat/ghee/oil sector are not filing returns electronically, whereas seven have e-filed returns during the period under review. There are four pesticides units which filed returns electronically. Only one is not e-filing returns. Out of five airlines registered with the LTU, Karachi, three units have not filed returns electronically against 2 compliant units in November 2007.