Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Ahmed Waqar has refused to exempt small traders and shopkeepers from electronically filing of tax returns.
Replying a demand to exempt small traders and shopkeepers from electronically filing of tax return during a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Tuesday, he advised members of KCCI to help small traders in fining tax return electronically and made this scheme a success. He said that FBR had already established several help centers across the country to help taxpayers in filing tax return electronically.
He also declined to further extend last date of filing tax return electronically He assured the business community that all their problems would be examined in detail and possible relief would be provided. He also assured that he would hold a meeting with members of KCCI after Ramazan and discuss all issues and problems in detail.
President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Shamsi said that except the medium and big size companies, most of registered persons mainly importers and wholesalers were not computer literate and they were not able to file their returns electronically. He said that the small scale manufacturers, medium sized importers and wholesalers neither had staff nor the facility to file the returns electronically.
He said that the scope of electronic filing tax return be extended slowly and gradually in phases and e-filing be made optional as the abrupt widening of the scope would create confusion and chaos for both the taxpayers and the department.
The chamber president also demanded that discrimination against beverage industry should be removed and full Federal Excise Duty (FED) input adjustment on beverage concentrate should be allowed to the industry.