Only 379 units have obtained de-registration certificates from the sales tax department in 2009-10. It is learnt on Thursday that the FBR had de-registered a total of 379 units on the request of the applicants. The percentage of units which closed down their businesses during 2009-10 is much higher as compared to the number of persons, who obtained de-registration certificates from sales tax department.
In many cases people left the businesses due to persistent loss, but 379 units in all major cities voluntarily came to the tax department for cancellation of sales tax registration. The FBR latest data further revealed that out of total of 161355 registered units, around 80,247 companies and business entities are actively engaged in business. Of this, 77,610 are non-compliant taxpayers including non-filers of sales tax returns.
A large number of 77,610 units are not complying with the provisions of the sales tax. It is not yet clear that how many companies are 'dormant' or 'inactive' out of 77,610 non-compliant taxpayers. The de-registration figures revealed that most the owners of closed units are not interested in obtaining NOC from the sales tax department.
As far as fresh registration in 2009-10 is concerned, the FBR data reveals that a total of 8886 taxpayers have got sales tax registration. The FBR has suspended sales tax registration of 5,669 taxpayers and 3,498 units have been declared 'blacklisted' involved in business of fake/flying invoices during 2009-10.