The government is planning to collect 10 percent capital gain tax (CGT) on day-trading of scrips by next fiscal year. Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that CGT exemption on capital markets is going to end by June 30, 2010, and would not be extended further.
They said the modalities in this regard have almost been finalised and the Finance Ministry is considering charging 10 percent CGT on day-trading of scrips in capital markets from next fiscal year. They said the Member, Direct Taxes had convened a meeting last week to convince Karachi stockbrokers. But they expressed resentments, saying that if the government planned to re-impose CGT, it should be reduced to 5 percent.
Sources, however, said the authority concerned is following the same procedure as running in India where 10 percent CGT is collected from bourses, and added that the neighbouring country had imposed CGT on stock exchanges in 2004.
They said the move to impose CGT on day-trading of scrips is aimed at promoting shares-holdings culture. They further said the scrips, which would be held for a period of one year and above or would be traded even a day before CGT implementation, would be considered as tax exempted.
They said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is presently collecting tax from stockbrokers under section 233A (C), according to that, "a stock exchange registered in Pakistan shall collect advance tax from its members in respect of trading of shares by the members at the rates specified in Division IIA of Part IV of First Schedule." They said the adjustment of CGT would be admissible and the board would collect CGT, if any, after its adjustment in advance tax payment.
Sources said the decision would help in improving tax-to-GDP ratio, which is below 10 percent and even lowest as compared to other developing countries. They said the country in the budget 2010-11 would need higher expenditures for ongoing war against terror and public sector development program (PSDP). The finance ministry started phasing out tax exemptions from last fiscal year to boost the country's economy.
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2008-09, the provision of tax exemptions incurred loss of around 120 billion rupees to the exchequer during the fiscal year, despite withdrawal of various exemptions. A major portion of losses was inflicted by stock exchanges by availing exemption on capital gains tax, the survey said.