The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to share salient features of the reformed general sales tax (RGST) with the business community from October 11, 2010. In this regard, the FBR has chalked out a national plan to arrange seminars and interactive sessions in all major cities of the country.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that FBR has finalised an action plan to motivate the business and trade to voluntarily adopt the RGST despite withdrawal of exemptions and zero-rating facility. Under the plan, the FBR has scheduled fortnightly seminars at Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Karachi, Sialkot, Peshawar, Multan, Quetta, Hyderabad and Lahore in collaboration with the respective Regional Tax Offices during October to December 2010.
According to the plan, seminar would be held Islamabad/Rawalpindi on October 11, Faisalabad October 18, Karachi October 28, Sialkot November 2, Peshawar November 8 , Multan November 23, Quetta December 8, Hyderabad December 9and seminar would be arranged at Lahore on December 21, 2010.
These seminars would motivate, persuade, facilitate and provide information on the RGST to the existing and the new incorporated sectors to ensure increase in revenue collection. Accordingly, the input on the RGST would be finalised by the Board on urgent basis. The Pakistan Revenue Automaton Limited will also acquaint the taxpayers regarding refund payment system through Centralised Sales Tax Refund Office (CSTRO). The FBR is expected to arrange a sales tax refund cheque distribution ceremony at Lahore on Tuesday (October 5).
The FBR Member Sales Tax, DG Human Resource Management, FBR Member Facilitation and Taxpayer Education, chambers of commerce and industries, manufactures and traders associations will be invited at each major station.
The FBR programme indicates that the new provisions of the RGST would be shared with the business community during October-December, but it is not clear whether any controversial provision of the new law would be abolished, if strongly contested by the private sector.