The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expressed its strong resent over the FBR decision to block e-filing of sales tax returns from January 1,2012 for non-disclosure of CNIC/NTN number of buyers and termed it unjustified. LCCI urged the Federal Board of Revenue to immediately withdraw the SRO 821(I) 2011.
The LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh in a statement on Monday said that the Federal Board of Revenue must avoid issuing any such decision without due consultation of Chambers of Commerce in the country for being the main stakeholders. He said that the SRO 821(I) 2011 will have devastating effect on the businesses in Pakistan as the compulsory requirement of NTN or CNIC number of each and every purchaser or seller is practically almost impossible. He said that 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.
He said that these and many other proposed changes in the tax returns will strangle the already crisis-hit businessmen in the country. He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry feels that the Federal Board of Revenue is shifting its burden of monitoring and tracking of the tax system on business community, which is unjust and unethical.
He said that it is very difficult to understand that why the people sitting at helm of affairs at the Federal Board of Revenue do not consult the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the country before formulating business related policies. He urged the Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to help withdraw the SRO 821(I) 2011.