Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has asked the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would have to revisit its policies to broaden tax net as discourteous attitude of tax officials has been discouraging new investments and new businesses.
President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Shahid Naseem Khokhar took a strong exception to the Federal Board of Revenue for introducing unrealistic and unjustified amendments to be incorporated in sales tax and Federal Excise Duty Return Forms. He said that the business community has strong apprehensions that the proposed amendments will have devastating effect on the businesses in Pakistan. Shahid Naseem Khokhar said that the proposed return requires feed the details of each and every sale or purchase transaction and invoice at the time of online submission of return and it will almost be impossible to provide details of each and every transaction online. Secondly, it will increase the cost of compliance for the taxpayers who are already facing the brunt of sheer price hike, economic recession and poor security situation in the country.
He said that the proposed return also requires that NTN or CNIC number of each and every purchaser or seller should be provided with the return. He said that given the literacy rate in the country and lack of compliance culture in general masses it will be very difficult to obtain such personal details from the buyers or sellers of the goods. Furthermore, there is another requirement to provide summary of stock on monthly basis. This is also not practically possible.
He said that these and many other proposed changes in the tax returns would strangle the already crisis-hit businessmen in the country.